Clarence P. Hawker

Clarence P. Hawker, 88, of the Edward L. Wilkinson Health Care facility and formerly of Wallins Corners Apartments, Hagaman, passed away Friday December 29, 2006 at St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam. Born in Amsterdam, NY on March 27, 1918 he was a son of Clarence E. and Rosa Hillaire Hawker. He was a lifelong area resident and attended local schools. Mr. Hawker was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II serving in the Asiatic, European and African Theatres and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with bronze arrowhead and a good conduct medal. After the war he worked for many years as a School Bus Driver for the Greater Amsterdam School District before retiring in 1983. He later was a driver for the Browns Bus Company. Clarence also drove the bus for many Amsterdam High School Football Teams. He was given a plaque by the high school to honor him for his years of service to the school. Mr. Hawker was a communicant of St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. He was a member of the John J. Wyszomirski American Legion Post #701 and the former James T. Bergen Post #39 both of Amsterdam. He married Marcella Kaminski Hawker on June 28, 1941 she passed away on May 6, 1997. Survivor?s include, Two sons, Clarence M. Hawker and his wife Donna of Tribes Hill, NY, and David M. Hawker and his wife Colleen of Amsterdam. One brother, Donald Hawker of Virginia Beach, VA, and one sister, Dorothy Relyea of New Mexico. Five grandchildren, Brian Hawker and his wife Luci, Sherri Derby and her husband Matthew, Jodie Gurka and her husband Tom, Tracey Gras and her husband Donald Gras III and Terri Hawker. Three great-grandchildren, Brianna Derby, Ryan Derby and Emma Gras also survive. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was pre-deceased by a great-grandchild Donald Gras IV who died in 2005 and a sister, Betty Humphrey. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday January 3, 2007 at 8:15A.M. at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:15A.M. at St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church, Main St., Amsterdam. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Amsterdam with full military honors. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday January 2, 2007 from 5:00 to 8:00P.M. at the funeral home. Members of the John J. Wyszomirski Post #701 will meet at the funeral home at 7:00P.M. Tuesday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hunter?s Hope Foundation, 6368 West Quaker St., Orchard Park, N.Y. 14127 or to the Crohn?s and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Ave, S Fl 17, New York, NY 10157-2450.