Blanche Hawkins
"Caring" and "giving" - these adjectives best describe Blanche King Hawkins who will be honored with induction into the Estill County Hall of Honor on 25 September 2009. She was born on 10 Nov 1917 to Michael King and Ethel Estes Jones and lived 90 productive years in Estill County. Blanche grew up at Fox and attended school there. She worked for Westinghouse in Richmond for 38 years while raising three daughters: Carolyn (John) Bowen of Berea, Vivian (J.W.) Thacker of Irvine, and Connie (Skip) Popp of Huntsville, Alabama. Her large family includes seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
After retiring from Westinghouse, Blanche, always a champion of education, heard about the Donovan Scholars Program at the University of Kentucky and enrolled. During her happy time of learning all kinds of new skills, she discovered the Ombudsman program for nursing homes. Irvine Health and Rehabilitation Center did not have an Ombudsman. Blanche got the job and worked on behalf of the residents for 22 years, retiring again at age 88. Her daughter, Vivian, remembers, "She just had a passion for these old people. Some of them even had her home phone number. If they called in the middle of the night, she would come to them." Since her retirement, many residents' families have sent donations to the nursing home in her honor and in her memory.
Her gift for giving also permeated other aspects of Blanche's life. She was "Moma" to her family, loving but stern in the old-fashioned sense. She took life as it came to her without ever complaining and tried to make a good home with pleasant surroundings. She furnished her home with antiques, found everywhere on her frequent trips around the area. She loved flowers and kept bulbs of rain lilies and dahlias to share with her family. She would bring bouquets of her flowers from her yard to people who needed cheering and to special occasions.
A long-time member of Wisemantown United Methodist Church, Blanche attended a rural Baptist church as a child. Everyone looked forward to her green beans, corn, "Mimi rolls," and Angel Food cakes at church dinners.She liked to cook hams, always with the "bone in."
Blanche loved genealogy and was a member of the Estill County Historical and Genealogical Society. She also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and served as president during the 1960's. She was a Kentucky Colonel.
Her interests and hobbies were varied as she explored new areas. She took art lessons from Russell and Jip McClanahan when their studio was in the old Zesto building. She loved painting both on canvas and on china. She made porcelain dolls for many of her children and grandchildren. These were painted and clothed in hand-made creations with great attention to detail.
Blanche also excelled in the needle arts. She pieced and embroidered quilts, pillow cases, and tablecloths. Even when she was incapacitated, she insisted on embellishing one of her daughter's Dutch Doll quilts "to make it better."
Blanche loved to travel. At age 86, she went on a tour to Nova Scotia by herself Her car meant "freedom" to her, and she explored the country roads and country stores both in Kentucky and other states. Her girls recall her calling home and getting someone to come and pick up her antique "finds." She loved talking to people and was unafraid to drive by herself. When she visited family who lived near historical sites, she never tired of seeing where exciting events had taken place or where the famous had lived.
Many friends recall Blanche's sense of humor. She was always saying funny things. To the family, she was more "no nonsense." She will long be remembered as an encourager and an optimist. Her daughters Dot and Vivian both smile at her interest in her grandchildren . "Shealwayswanted them to go on with their educations." Married to Marvin Hawkins for 21 years before their divorce, "she never stopped loving him and was even right there for his funeral." She persevered through troubles, taking care of herself and obeying her doctors' orders, especially in dealing with her diabetes. Most of all, she brought hope and optimism to the nursing home residents and their families. Her ministry of loving service to the community indeed highly qualifies her for induction into the Estill County Hall of Honor.
After retiring from Westinghouse, Blanche, always a champion of education, heard about the Donovan Scholars Program at the University of Kentucky and enrolled. During her happy time of learning all kinds of new skills, she discovered the Ombudsman program for nursing homes. Irvine Health and Rehabilitation Center did not have an Ombudsman. Blanche got the job and worked on behalf of the residents for 22 years, retiring again at age 88. Her daughter, Vivian, remembers, "She just had a passion for these old people. Some of them even had her home phone number. If they called in the middle of the night, she would come to them." Since her retirement, many residents' families have sent donations to the nursing home in her honor and in her memory.
Her gift for giving also permeated other aspects of Blanche's life. She was "Moma" to her family, loving but stern in the old-fashioned sense. She took life as it came to her without ever complaining and tried to make a good home with pleasant surroundings. She furnished her home with antiques, found everywhere on her frequent trips around the area. She loved flowers and kept bulbs of rain lilies and dahlias to share with her family. She would bring bouquets of her flowers from her yard to people who needed cheering and to special occasions.
A long-time member of Wisemantown United Methodist Church, Blanche attended a rural Baptist church as a child. Everyone looked forward to her green beans, corn, "Mimi rolls," and Angel Food cakes at church dinners.She liked to cook hams, always with the "bone in."
Blanche loved genealogy and was a member of the Estill County Historical and Genealogical Society. She also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and served as president during the 1960's. She was a Kentucky Colonel.
Her interests and hobbies were varied as she explored new areas. She took art lessons from Russell and Jip McClanahan when their studio was in the old Zesto building. She loved painting both on canvas and on china. She made porcelain dolls for many of her children and grandchildren. These were painted and clothed in hand-made creations with great attention to detail.
Blanche also excelled in the needle arts. She pieced and embroidered quilts, pillow cases, and tablecloths. Even when she was incapacitated, she insisted on embellishing one of her daughter's Dutch Doll quilts "to make it better."
Blanche loved to travel. At age 86, she went on a tour to Nova Scotia by herself Her car meant "freedom" to her, and she explored the country roads and country stores both in Kentucky and other states. Her girls recall her calling home and getting someone to come and pick up her antique "finds." She loved talking to people and was unafraid to drive by herself. When she visited family who lived near historical sites, she never tired of seeing where exciting events had taken place or where the famous had lived.
Many friends recall Blanche's sense of humor. She was always saying funny things. To the family, she was more "no nonsense." She will long be remembered as an encourager and an optimist. Her daughters Dot and Vivian both smile at her interest in her grandchildren . "Shealwayswanted them to go on with their educations." Married to Marvin Hawkins for 21 years before their divorce, "she never stopped loving him and was even right there for his funeral." She persevered through troubles, taking care of herself and obeying her doctors' orders, especially in dealing with her diabetes. Most of all, she brought hope and optimism to the nursing home residents and their families. Her ministry of loving service to the community indeed highly qualifies her for induction into the Estill County Hall of Honor.