Obituary for Dr. Bob Hawk
On January 22, 2023, Dr. Bob Hawk stepped across heaven’s threshold, into the hands of his loving Father, where he is hurting no more. Born April 3, 1939, in Buffalo, New York, Bob spent his youth in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated from Indian Springs High School, after battling polio as a child. He began college at Georgia Tech where he realized he did not want to be an engineer and transferred to Birmingham-Southern University to get a degree in chemistry. There, he met his life-long love, Barbara Nichols, and they married in 1960 before graduating. In 1965, Bob was awarded a medical degree from Emory University. After residency, he, Barbara, and eldest daughter Jenny, made their way from Macon, Georgia to Fairbanks, Alaska, where Bob started his medical career serving at Eielson Airforce base.
In 1972, after completing an Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship in Charlotte, NC, the Hawk family found their way to Brevard, where they settled to raise their four children and begin a long career as an OB/GYN. He delivered babies and did surgery at Transylvania Regional Hospital, then on Country Club Road, while running a small clinic on Caldwell. After a few years, he opened a solo practice at “Flossie’s” house on the Asheville Hwy.
Many thousands of children born in Transylvania County were welcomed into this beautiful corner of WNC by Bob’s gentle hands. He was the first doctor in Transylvania County to administer epidurals during childbirth. He loved his family, his staff, colleagues, and his many patients. He met his calling with genuine care, diligent study, and true joy. These attributes helped him maintain regular office hours as well as endless nighttime births. He was tireless, committed, humble, and gave his best at all times. He was known locally as the “Honey” doctor because he used honey on his patients’ surgical wounds to promote healing. He was also known for his very corny jokes, puns, and sincere hospitality.
He retired from Obstetrics in 1996, maintaining his gynecological practice until 2006. In retirement he remained tireless, building a trail to the top of his mountain, wood working, participating in men’s Bible study groups, enjoying the Brevard Music center, and driving anyone who would let him up his beautiful trail on a tractor or on his golf cart. He loved nature and was accepted into the NC Forestry Stewardship program in 2010. He cherished his church, family, and many friends, old and new.
He is survived by his wife, children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Most of whom were there to hold his hands as he breathed his last breath. He is greatly missed.
Services will be held Friday, January 27th at Brevard Wesleyan Church. Visitation begins at 1:30, the service at 3:00, with a reception afterward. Should you desire, donations made in his honor and sent to Brevard Wesleyan Church will be split between Brevard Wesleyan Church and Samaritan’s Purse.
In 1972, after completing an Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship in Charlotte, NC, the Hawk family found their way to Brevard, where they settled to raise their four children and begin a long career as an OB/GYN. He delivered babies and did surgery at Transylvania Regional Hospital, then on Country Club Road, while running a small clinic on Caldwell. After a few years, he opened a solo practice at “Flossie’s” house on the Asheville Hwy.
Many thousands of children born in Transylvania County were welcomed into this beautiful corner of WNC by Bob’s gentle hands. He was the first doctor in Transylvania County to administer epidurals during childbirth. He loved his family, his staff, colleagues, and his many patients. He met his calling with genuine care, diligent study, and true joy. These attributes helped him maintain regular office hours as well as endless nighttime births. He was tireless, committed, humble, and gave his best at all times. He was known locally as the “Honey” doctor because he used honey on his patients’ surgical wounds to promote healing. He was also known for his very corny jokes, puns, and sincere hospitality.
He retired from Obstetrics in 1996, maintaining his gynecological practice until 2006. In retirement he remained tireless, building a trail to the top of his mountain, wood working, participating in men’s Bible study groups, enjoying the Brevard Music center, and driving anyone who would let him up his beautiful trail on a tractor or on his golf cart. He loved nature and was accepted into the NC Forestry Stewardship program in 2010. He cherished his church, family, and many friends, old and new.
He is survived by his wife, children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Most of whom were there to hold his hands as he breathed his last breath. He is greatly missed.
Services will be held Friday, January 27th at Brevard Wesleyan Church. Visitation begins at 1:30, the service at 3:00, with a reception afterward. Should you desire, donations made in his honor and sent to Brevard Wesleyan Church will be split between Brevard Wesleyan Church and Samaritan’s Purse.