James W. “Short” Hankins, age 92, of Warsaw, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Warsaw Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born on May 30, 1933, in Protem, Missouri, the eldest of 14 children to Earl and Mioma (Holt) Hankins.
Jim grew up near Cedar Creek, Missouri, and worked as a young boy clearing cedar trees during the construction of Bull Shoals Lake. In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Germany during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1961.
After returning to Cedar Creek, he was united in marriage to his first wife, Charlene Hankins. Two children were born to this union.
On October 30, 1963, he married Emily Chesnut. They made their home on a farm near Odessa, Missouri, where Jim was employed by General Motors until the plant’s closure. He then attended locksmith school and operated Jim’s Locksmith in Odessa for twenty years. Jim was a life member of the Odessa VFW Post #5675 and served as Post Commander from 1981 to 1983. He also served in the VFW honor guard.
In 2007, Jim and Emily moved to Warsaw, where he opened Hankins Lock and Key. He was a member of Poplar Baptist Church. Jim loved people, was a proud pilot, and deeply valued his military service. He continued to serve as an honor guard for the American Legion Post #217 in Warsaw for as long as his health allowed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emily Hankins; a daughter, Roxanne Hohensee; two grandchildren; two sisters; and four brothers.
Jim is survived by three children: James W. Hankins, Jr. (Caren), Judy Willig, and Richard Earl Hankins; four sisters: Sue VanDyke, Mary Blevins, Donna Shouse, and Kay Conrad; three brothers: Alfred Hankins, Wayne Hankins, and Darrell Hankins; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the Poplar Baptist Church near Warsaw with Pastor Van Mellen officiating. Interment and Military Rites will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.
