Willard Hankins

Willard S. "Bill" Hankins, 89, a resident of Huntertown, passed away at 9:15 a. m. on Monday, September 6, 2010, at the Kingston care Center in Fort Wayne following an extended illness. Mr. Hankins was born on March 22, 1921 in Warsaw, a son of Marvin C. and Marie (Webber) Hankins, and as a young man served with the U. S. Army during World War II in Normandy, Northern France, and central Europe. Following his military discharge he was married in Mishawaka on May 4, 1946 to Isabel J. Tibbitts, and had lived in Huntertown for over 50 years.e He had been employed as a conductor for the Penn Central Railroad for 42 years before his retirement. He was a member of the Huntertown United Methodist Church, Huntertown Lodge 689 F&AM, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and the Warsaw American Legion Post. Among the surviving relatives is his wife Isabel, to whom he was married for over 64 years; a son and daughter-in-law William E. and Patricia Hankins of Sarasota, Fla; his brother Norman Eugene (Martha) Hankins of Warsaw; and a sister Edna Marie (Ted) Snyder of Marion. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter Susan J. Hankins on August 2, 1980.e Two sisters Elva Louise Evans and Clara Mae Michael are also deceased. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Thursday, September 9, 2010, at the Huntertown United Methodist Church, 16021 Lima Road, with Pastor Greg Hiatt, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Wednesday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.e Huntertown Lodge 689 F&AM will conduct memorial service at 8 p. m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Interment with military graveside rites will be held at 2 p. m. on Thursday at the Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Memorial contributions may be directed to Huntertown United Methodist Church, 16021 Lima Rd., Huntertown, INe 46748; National Parkinson Foundation, P. O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MDe 21741-5018; or Parkivew Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Ave., suite 200, Fort Wayne, INe 46805. ***************************************** To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. Hankins' memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .