Edward B. Hankins, age 85 of the Thompson Valley community in Tazewell, Va., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, at his home with his childhood sweetheart, his wife by his side. Born Oct. 31, 1927, in the Belfast community of Russell County, Va., he was a son of the late Ezra Paris Hankins and Nellie Helen Settle Hankins. He was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell, Va. Mr. Hankins was the 6th son in his family to enlist in military service during World War, II and on his 18th birthday, he crossed the International Date Line going to the Pacific Theater. After returning from the war, he worked for Chris-Ella Dairy and built the buildings that are on the farm now. He owned and operated Pleasant View Poultry Farm in Thompson Valley for 25 years. An avid lover and owner of the Tennessee Walking Horse, he enjoyed horse shows, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. After retirement from the poultry business, he enjoyed assisting his son, Chris in the trucking business and his son, Steve in the Walking Horse business. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers, Carl, Marion, Hugh, Clifford, Robert, Ralph, and Harold Hankins; one sister, Bessie Potter; and one grandson, Matthew Shepard.
Those left to cherish his loving memories are his wife of 65 years, Geraldine Warner Hankins; two sons, Chris Hankins and wife, Bertha of Fincastle, Va., and Steve Hankins and wife, Sandy of Thompson Valley, Va.; one daughter, Margaret Shepard and husband, Jimmy of Thompson Valley, Va.; seven grandchildren, Amanda Hankins-Shrader, Stephoney Phillips, Stephen Hankins, Jacob Shepard, Jonathan Hankins, Anthony Hankins and Jerome Hankins; ten great grandchildren, Scooter, Lane, Taylor, Madison, Grace, Madison Marie, Kailey, Catlin, Alexis, and Cooper; three sisters, Lula May Hunter of Pearl City, Hawaii, Pearline Murray of Baptist Valley, Va., and Pauline Eskut of Cleveland, Ohio; his special caregiver, Ambrose Ezeji; several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Friday, March 1, 2013 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell, Va., where a Funeral Mass will be conducted at 7 PM with Father Burt Sare and Pastor Danny Whitt officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Chris Hankins, Steve Hankins, Stephen Hankins, Jacob Shepard, Anthony Hankins, Jerome Hankins, Jimmy Shepard, Scott Shrader, Brian Phillips, and Ambrose Ezeji. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 304 Tazewell Ave. Tazewell, VA 24651 or a charity of your choice.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell, VA is serving the Hankins family. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.peerystclairfuneralhome.com