Roberta Jane Hawkins

Roberta Jane Hawkins, a resident of Downey for more than six decades, died January 30. She was 90. She was born in Boulder City, Nevada in 1933 and moved to Downey in 1943 where her father transferred with the US Postal Service. She attended Downey High School and graduated in the Class of 1951. Immediately following high school, she joined the FBI as a stenographer and moved to New York City at age 18, later transferring with the Bureau to San Francisco. Following her service with the FBI she enrolled at Cal-State L.A. and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She joined the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services where she spent 25 years as a children’s social worker, retiring in 1990. An avid life-learner and arts and culture enthusiast, she enjoyed classical music concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, books, world travel, taking care of her beloved rescue dogs, and spending quality time with family and life-long friends. She was predeceased by her parents Robert and Katherine Hawkins, and sister Patricia Wilson of Downey, who died in 2022. She is survived by niece Katie Raya of Rancho Santa Margarita, nephews Daniel Wilson of Long Beach and Michael Wilson of Downey, grandnieces Lauren Aguilera and Emily Raya, and grandnephew Nathan Raya. A funeral mass and burial will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 9AM at All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach. The family requests donations be made in her honor to Homeboy Industries to support the work and vision of Father Gregory Boyle, SJ.