Earlena Hawkins, 84 years old and a twelve-year resident of Swiss Village in Berne, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 in the Adams Memorial Hospital located in Decatur. She was a former longtime resident of Decatur. She was born on Wednesday, February 22, 1922 in Berne, Indiana the daughter of the late Daniel P. Steury and the late Catherine (Habegger) Steury. She married the late Ralph E. Hawkins on October 18, 1942 and he passed away on March 28, 1992. Earlena was a member of Decatur Church of God and was a homemaker. She had also sold Avon Products and worked a short time at Decatur Industries. Surviving are her son, Sydney (Modjeska) Hawkins of Berne, Indiana, daughter, Mrs. Daniel (Charlene) Nutter of Fort Wayne, Indiana, son, Robert (Jan) Hawkins of Woodburn, Indiana, daughter, Mrs. Elliott (Pamela) Rubinstein of Springfield, Virginia, sister, Elma Schwartz of Berne, Indiana, sister, Mrs. Gene (Hulda) Kleinknight of Ossian, Indiana, sister, Estelle McDaniel of Portland, Indiana, sister, Mrs. William (Naomi) Polstra of Roswell, Georgia, sister, Verna Tharp of Tucson, Arizona, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Preceding Earlena in death were two sisters, Dora and Flora Steury in infancy and one son, Gregory Allen Hawkins in infancy. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Mitchel officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Indiana. Friends will be received from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December 18 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur. Preferred memorials are to Josh & Sarah Hawkins-Missions through World Partners.
