Gilman Sydney Hawxhurst

Gilman Hawxhurst was born on June 11, 1926, to Willard E. and Louise (Lulu) Hawxhurst in Mt. Kisco, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Elise (Hopfmann), brothers Willard, Jr. and Malcolm, sister Muriel, and daughter, Lizabeth.

Gilman’s early life included enjoying country life, aircraft modeling, and listening to the Charlie McCarthy radio show. He was active in his local Presbyterian church, winning a biblical history award when he was a junior in high school. He heard the call to duty shortly afterwards during WWII, enlisting in the U.S. Marines at age 17 (but only after receiving permission from his mother), and qualified as a B-25 turret gunner. Gilman was stationed on Emirau Island in the South Pacific and participated in the bombing of several enemy bases. He later saw duty in the Philippine Islands after the war’s end.

Upon returning home, Gilman obtained a job as a lineman with Western Electric in New York City, where he met and married Elise Hopfmann of White Plains, New York. He attended Oswego State Teachers’ College in Oswego, New York, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. Gilman and Elise grew a family of five children: Carolyn, Bradford, Jeffrey, Lizabeth, and Scott.

He worked in Tucson, Arizona as a surveyor and draftsman for the Southern Pacific Railroad until 1965, and then moved his family to Vermont, where he was an Industrial Arts and Mechanical Drawing teacher at Johnson H.S. and Lake Region Union H.S., Orleans, for the next 20 years.

Afterwards, Gilman obtained his Commercial Driver's License and drove over-the-road tractor-trailers for about ten years. His last official job as a heavy equipment driver and maintenance man was with the Bridger-Teton National Forest Service, Blackrock and Jackson Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service near Jackson, Wyoming. He retired at the age of 79.

In retirement, Gilman shared residence in Hoback Junction and Alpine, Wyoming with his daughter, Carolyn, and enjoyed his hobbies of building remote-controlled aircraft and black powder muzzle-loader rifles. Until the end, he would make his breakfast and do the morning dishes in between watching his favorite TV shows. In August, 2025, he moved with his daughter to Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, to enjoy the country while she manages a family horse property. He celebrated his 100th birthday there among family members and friends with his traditional cheeseburger and beer, and Carolyn’s cherry cream cheese pie.

Gilman passed in comfort in the early morning hours of June 17, 2026 at St.Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho. As he had promised, he made it to 100 years…plus six days.