Obituary of William John Hankins

Uniontown- William J. Hankins (Bill), 68, passed away Friday, September 12, 2014 at his home. Bill was born November 1, 1945 in Akron. He was a 1963 graduate of Hoban High School and attended Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and Walsh University in Canton. He retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. after 43 years of service. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents Rita and Steve Sitko, parents-in-law Rose and John Ross and brother-in-law Dr. Nick Libertin. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Diana (Ross) Hankins; children Kelley (Pete) Spilios of Canton, David (Wendy) Hankins of Katy, TX and Steve Hankins of Hartville; grandchildren Channing and David Hankins, Alexia Fonte, Amber, Lauren, Steven and Joshua Hankins; siblings Claire (Joe) Vida, Steve (Pat) Sitko, Rick (Odette) Hankins, Jim Sitko, Tom (Sue) Sitko, Colette Libertin, Maggi (Pat Sweeney) Sitko and Jozie Sitko; brother and sister-in-law John and Jeannine Ross; his "adopted" son William (Bill) Feser; nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren. Thank you to all his many friends who visited during his illness and a special thank you to Debbie from Summa Hospice. He was in the US Naval Reserves, played softball for the Jednota Club and Smith Electric. He was president of the Hoban Booster Club and coached Lake youth football and basketball and Hot Stove baseball. Bill's loves are his children and grandchildren. He loved to watch his daughter cheer and his boys play sports and even more enjoyed watching his grandchildren play volleyball, soccer, baseball and cheerleading. He loved high school and college sports, especially football -- Hoban, Bowling Green, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Bill loved to travel and liked to sit on the beach, take walks, watch for dolphins, and have margaritas at the Sand Bar, all with his wife Diana at his side at Anna Maria Island, FL and trips to Katy, TX to be with his grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Anthony and Son Funeral Home in Green, 4178 Massillon Rd, Uniontown OH (corner of Massillon and Steese Roads, entrance off Steese) on Friday from 4 to 8 pm. A funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 11:00 am in Nativity Catholic Church, 2425 Myersville Road Akron, OH 44312 where the family will receive friends prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William J. Hankins Memorial, Archbishop Hoban High School, One Holy Cross Blvd, Akron OH 44306, or the National MS Society Buckeye Chapter OH, 6155 Rockside Road #202, Independence OH 44131. (Anthony, GREEN, 330, 899, 9790, anthonyfh.com)