Obituary of George Daniel Hawbaker

George Daniel Hawbaker, 98, of Sun City Center, FL, peacefully entered into eternal life on January 7, 2019. George was born on December 18, 1920 in St. Clairsville, Ohio to Linford and Mary Stickell Hawbaker. George and his beloved wife of over 73 years, Lois Elisabeth ‘Libby’ Hawbaker, made Sun City Center their home in 1981 and moved to Sun Towers in 2010. 

George loved God, his family and his country.  He graduated from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and proudly served in the Pacific as a Lieutenant in the Navy during WWII. When the war ended in 1945, George married Libby and they settled in Hagerstown, MD, where he worked his way up to President of the family feed mill. In 1962, the State Department created the Agency for International Development and with George’s expertise in growing and preserving food, he quickly found his next career. As a Foreign Service Officer, George took Libby and their teenage children on a new adventure to Brazil.  After four years in South America,  he and Libby were stationed in the African countries of Nigeria, Zambia, and Mauritania. After almost 20 years overseas, and countless wonderful memories, he retired in 1980.  George and Libby then purchased a motorhome and traveled for a year before deciding to make Sun City Center their home.

George is survived by his wife, Libby Hawbaker of Sun City Center; daughter Ruth Rowe-Tabbutt (John Tabbutt) of Winter Springs, FL; son Lynn Hawbaker (Maryellen) of Bettendorf, IA; brother David S. Hawbaker of Allison Park, PA; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and many beloved relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn Hawbaker Cox and Jack Cox of Deerfield Beach, FL, and sister-in-law, Jody Turner Hawbaker of Allison Park, PA

Visitation will begin at 11:30 am and a memorial for George will be held at noon on March 9, 2019, at the Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in George’s memory to the church that he and Libby loved and attended, Friendship Baptist Church, 1511 El Rancho Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573. Please include your name and address with any donations so that the family can thank you personally.