Gabriel Hawkins

On Saturday, December 10, Gabriel Robert Hawkins passed unexpectedly at the age of 26. Gabe was born October 7th, 1996 in Indianapolis, IN, to Troy & Gretchen (Wickham) Hawkins. He graduated from North Central High School in 2015, and briefly attended Ball State University before moving to Bloomington, IN. On May 14, 2021, he married his high school sweetheart, Victoria Winter.

 

Gabe had a passion and vigor for life that few could match. He spent what seemed like the majority of his childhood swimming at the Riviera Club or riding bikes with his friends, traditions that he enthusiastically passed along to his younger siblings. He excelled at most sports he tried, and just to be sure he tried them all. He played soccer, baseball, and basketball, and ultimately found his athletic passion in rugby, eventually becoming team captain and winning a State Championship. He was notorious for running on Gabe Time, which ranged from 5 to 45 minutes late on a good day, and lost every single thing he ever owned twice a day. He usually found it again. (If anybody has seen his ID, the family would appreciate if you dropped that in the mail.) He devoured books, and spent many lazy afternoons on his parents back deck reading until the sun went down. He paired this hobby with a love for hiking, and many times went 'missing', only to be found tucked away in a hammock in some back hill, Kindle in hand and his dog, Finn, sprawled across his lap. He appreciated a good beer, and had an incomprehensible love for cheap whiskey. He brought an unparalleled sense of humor to the table, and could bring a smile to the face of even the grumpiest chef with one of his many unique sayings. He loved to cook and could be found loudly singing mid-rush on the line of numerous Bloomington and Indianapolis restaurants. After work, he would be the first one on the dance floor, Tori by his side. The Bluebird never knew what it was missing until he showed up, but he certainly knew how to set a vibe, and he never missed a good show. He was always one to go out of his way to help others, even to the detriment of his own well being at times, but Gabe never cared. He had the most caring heart, and helping people was just that important to him. His love for his family was unparalleled. He made sure his younger siblings knew that Gabey Baby was their #1 supporter in anything they attempted, even if he was probably showing up late.

 

Gabe is survived by his former wife and good friend Tori Winter, his parents Troy and Gretchen (Wickham) Hawkins, and his siblings Zach (Mallory), Aaron, Chloe, and Jayce Hawkins, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless loved ones. He will be missed intensely.

 

Please join us in celebrating his life at the NorthView Carmel Campus (12900 Hazel Dell Pkwy, Carmel, IN) on Wednesday the 21st. Visitation will be from 3:00-5:00, with the service immediately following. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Gabe's honor is kindly asked to consider Ben's Friends, a service industry support group for those who struggle with substance abuse (www.bensfriendshope.com)