Lillian Mary Hankinson

History and Stories for Lillian Mary Hankinson

Birthdate: July 4, 1926
Birthplace: Skykomish, WA.

Early childhood years to age 14:
Most of her early years were spent in the Sultan, WA. area with short period of time spent in Waterman near Port Orchard, then near Clear Creek in the Silverdale area.

Age 15 to 21:
In 1940 her parents James and Eliza Stites purchased property on Beck Road in Belfair, WA. where she lived until her marriage to Robert "Hank" Hankinson in 1945. Following her marriage her and Hank rented in Bremerton, Gorst and Gladwin Beach near Belfair until November of 1950 when they purchased property with a small house and garage on North Shore Road adjacent to her parents property.
Lillian lived at this location for over 65 years until her passing.

Education:
Graduating Class of 1944, South Kitsap High School, Port Orchard, WA.

Family:
Spouse: Robert Clayton "Hank" Hankinson, born Oct. 7, 1924. Deceased June 15, 2008.
Son : William Russell Hankinson, born August 28, 1948. Deceased June 13, 1993. Auto accident.
Son: Richard Alvin Hankinson (Sharon), born November 30, 1950. Resides in Belfair,Wa.

Extended family:
4 Grandchildren
10 Great grandchildren
Numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces

Surviving family:
Son - Richard (Sharon) Hankinson, Belfair, WA.
Brother - Raymond (Alice) Stites, Belfair, WA.
Brother - Jesse Stites, Shelton, WA.

Words to describe Lillian:
Loving, kind, soft-spoken, loved animals especially cats, always putting others welfare before her own.

Occupation
Homemaker
Cooks assistant at North Mason High School for a short time

Interests
Gardening, family camping, crafts, activities with fellow church members

Favorite Activity:
Spending time with family and friends.

How Lillian and Hank met
During WWII, after high school Lillian got a job in the tool room at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton where she worked with her best friend Vivian.

Hank was stationed on the battleship USS Indiana. Following a collision in the fog in the south Pacific with another US ship, the Indiana came into PSNS for repairs.

Being a true blue blooded sailor Hank flirted with all the girls and asked Vivian out for a date. Vivian told him that she couldn't go because she was married but said that she knew just the girl for him and introduced him to Lillian. After just a couple of dates they fell in love and Hank asked her if she would wait for him until the war was over.

Immediately after the war ended, even before he was discharged, Hank returned to Washington where Hank and Lillian were married on October 13, 1945 in Shelton. They remained married for over 62 years until Hank's passing in 2008.


Stories from Richard:

When Bill and Richard were very young Hank told them that Lillian was so special that everyone celebrated her birthday by taking the day off and shooting fireworks in the air. Her birthday is the 4th of July. Every year to this day when I see fireworks I think of my mother.

In 1972 while I was attending college at WSU I went on spring break in the San Francisco Bay area with friends. While I was there I connected with my father for dinner. He was on a 3 week assignment for the shipyard, this was during the second week. During dinner dad looked a little sad and I asked him what he was thinking. He said that he missed Lillian so much that he would never volunteer for another assignment away from home again....and he didn't! That's some special lady!