Sally Vandecar Hawkins

Sally Vandecar Hawkins passed away on May 17, 2017 surrounded by her family.

She was born in Grand Rapids Michigan in 1922 and began working at an early age for her grandparent’s automotive business: “W.D.Vandecar”, the inventor of the “automatic clutch”.

She became one of America’s first flight attendants, working for Pennsylvania Central Airlines beginning just before her 18th birthday in 1940. She was married to Captain William W. Russell III on January 17, 1942. They had three children, Sydney Vandecar Russell, William W. Russell IV, and John Timothy Russell. They lived in Montchanin and then New Castle, Delaware.

In 1952, she married Ewing B. Hawkins, and her fourth child, Ewing B. Hawkins Jr., was born in 1954, and the family lived until 1991 at 1003 N. Broom Street. Ewing B. Hawkins Sr. had four children from a previous marriage, Margaret, John, Katherine, and Heidi, who joined the ranks so the house was always full of laughter and song.

She replaced Ewing B. Hawkins Sr. in 1972 as CEO and General Manager of WILM Radio and spent many years working until the station was sold in 2004. She was the first female member of the University and Whist Club, a fact that was celebrated on March 8, 2017 at the Club.

She became a resident of Stonegates in Greenville in February 2008, and spent nine very happy years there, participating in musicals, the chorus, and many other activities. Sally is survived by all of her children, grandchildren (12) and great-grandchildren (14).