Robert Montgomery Hawthorne, Sr

NEWPORT, RI - Robert Montgomery Hawthorne, Sr. of 193 Forest Ave, Forest Farm, Middletown, RI, formerly of 9 Mt. Vernon Street, Newport, died Friday, February 24, 2006 at Newport Hospital. He was 96 years old.He was the husband of the late Elizabeth ?Betty? DeFriend Hawthorne.Born in Gary, IN on October 7, 1909, he was the son of the late Charles W. and Minnie Crisman Hawthorne. Leaving home at age fourteen, he worked in a variety of jobs until he settled in York, PA, working in successively higher positions at the naval ordnance plant there throughout World War 2 and the Korean Conflict.A resident of Newport since 1963, Mr. Hawthorne retired in 1968 after 21 years of service to the U.S. Navy as an engineering technician, with particular expertise in the ASROC missile launcher. After his retirement, he became very involved in the community, serving at various times as president of the local AARP chapter, president of the Newport Players Guild, secretary of the Newport Art Association, board member of Child and Family Services, and president of the Trustees of Channing Memorial Church, of which he was a longtime member. Robert was also active with the Friends of the Library and the Edward King Senior Center. Through his years of volunteer service, he was loved and respected by many. To the people who knew him during his life, he was a man of strong, honest opinions, and an unfailing gentleman until the day he died.He is survived by a brother, James D. Hawthorne of Barrington, IL, and four grandchildren: Kelvin Hawthorne of Munich, Germany; Christopher Hawthorne of Los Angeles, CA; David Hawthorne of Cambridge, MA; and Margaret Doty of Pelham, NY; and six great-grandchildren: Gabriel and Rafael Hawthorne, Julien and Caroline Hawthorne, Pannonica Gottschlich Hawthorne, and Noah Doty.He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, son, Robert M. Hawthorne, Jr., his brother, Charles Hawthorne, and his sister, Louise Lenhart. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at 10:30am with a graveside service at Middletown Cemetery, at the corner of Turner and Wyatt Roads, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Channing Memorial Church, Newport, RI.