He was raised in the Lone Star Community. The family had a dairy farm where he helped do the milking at an early age, later they had a corn field. During his senior year in high school, he was the champion Corn Grower in Texas.
He worked in the oil fields in Texas and then moved to Louisiana, where he went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and met his wife Virginia. He was transferred to Baytown, Texas and worked until he retired from Union Pacific as a Freight Conductor. He was a member of Old River Masonic Lodge.
He was a kind and loving man who was an inspiration to many. He cherished his family, and his grandchildren were the delight of his life. He enjoyed attending their activities.
He will be remembered as a successful quarter horse breeder and race horse trainer. Horses kept him going to the last few years of his life. He raced horses in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico and was very successful. Next to God, family, friends, and horses were his passion for over 50 years.
He is survived by his loving wife Virginia for 66 years, son Steven Watkins and wife Donna, daughter Susan Martin, grandson Mikah Watkins, who was his right-hand man with the horses & wife Courtney, granddaughters Jenna & Jeremy Dean, Claya Watkins, Stali and Justin Hahn, Lynsie Martin, great-granddaughters Brooke Watkins, Breezeleigh Willis, Shevy Martin, brother Charles Watkins and special friend Jackie Watkins, who helped with the horses. Many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many great friends.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandson Jax Dean, his parents Jesse and Willie Watkins, brothers Marvin, Jack, and John Dan Watkins, sisters Nan Phillips and Joann Lampard.
He was born in Rosalie, Texas on August 22, 1934 and went to his heavenly home March 25, 2023.
Visitation will be March 30, 2023 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Navarre Funeral Home. Services will follow at 6pm, officiated by Pastor Charles Jones of the Message Church. He will be laid to rest at the Lone Star Cemetery in Clarksville, Texas.
Pallbearers will be Mikah Watkins, Kevin Peters, Larry Holman, Vincent Ceja, Justin Hahn, and Thurman Russell.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.navarrefuneralhome.com for the Watkins family.
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