With the Lord

William D. Hawley, Jr. - February 18, 1942 - August 13, 1998

Bill Hawley was born in West Virginia and saved at the age of 14 after hearing the gospel message at a tent meeting. After high school, Bill attended Bob Jones University to major in Bible, then attended medical school at West Virginia University. He married Patricia in 1966, four years before his graduation from WVU.

Following medical school, Bill served his internship, spent three years in the Navy, and entered private medical practice. During this time he and Patty remained active in their local church, open to God's leading in their lives. After hearing ABWE missionary Gene Gurganus speak at their church the Hawleys again asked God for specific direction for their future. Shortly thereafter, Bill read the book Daktar, and the Hawleys attended ABWE's conference in Bermuda, which God used to call them into career missionary service.

Bill & Patty were accepted by ABWE in 1978, and arrived in Amazonas, Brazil in 1981. Bill was one of the founders of the Amazonas Baptist Hospital, located in Santo Antonio do Iça along the Amazon River. Bill helped oversee the initial hospital construction and, in addition to his medical responsibilities, assisted struggling churches with preaching, teaching, and music. The Hawleys served at Amazonas Baptist Hospital until family health matters required them to return to the United States in 1990. Bill served as choir director and adult Bible teacher in his home church, and continued to travel to the Amazon every few years to serve short-term at the hospital he helped to start.

In October of 1997, Bill was diagnosed with an inoperable, rapidly growing brain tumor. He wrote to a friend, "Let's just let God be God." A few months before his death, Bill was able to make a final visit to Santo Antonio, where the Brazilians held a beautiful ceremony honoring his service to their community. He was deeply loved by those he served.

Bill is survived by his wife Patty, and their children Jonathan, Sarah, and David.

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