Virginia Helen Watkins

After recently celebrating her 100th birthday on Aug. 25, 2021, she lived another 15 months, excited to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as her final home.

Virginia was the middle child of 3 children including her older brother, James Poulos, and younger sister, Georgia Dillon. She grew up in Lansing, Michigan where her father owned a favorite restaurant downtown called the ‘Shenandoah’. She attended Acme Business College in Lansing, where she met her husband, A. Dean Watkins of Elm Hall, Michigan. They later started the A. Dean Watkins Co. in Lansing, which, after 70 years, is still going strong today as A. Dean Watkins East, of Okemos. Virginia worked in the business from time to time, but she found most delight in her family and being a stay-at-home mom. Along with that, her church family was very important to her as she and Dean started attending South Baptist Church in Lansing, MI. Virginia came to know Christ as a little girl, but grew in her relationship with the Lord after going to South Baptist for several years. While there, Virginia loved being a Sunday school and Bible school teacher, where all her kids were introduced to Jesus. She also held weekly Bible studies in her home over the years, taught by the late Lucille Sugden, wife of then Pastor Howard F. Sugden, and had a passion for serving others.

Virginia adored life and everyone who knew her cherished her contagious smile and laugh. She and Dean were big loyal MSU fans who enjoyed going to football and hockey games. She also enjoyed playing golf, traveling to Hawaii and other places along with their condo in Florida every winter. These past 4 years, she has lived with her daughter, Jan, and son-in-law, Glen, in Grand Rapids, MI. She will be greatly missed, but so happy that she is indeed...Finally Home.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Elsie Poulos, brother, James Poulos, and her husband of 56 years, A. Dean Watkins. Virginia is survived by her sister, Georgia Dillon; children, Gary (Bonnie) Watkins, Bob (Jayne) Watkins, Jan (Glen) Voetberg, and Jeff (Raecene) Watkins; grandchildren, Brian Watkins, Lisa (Jared) Kimmey, Shawn (Brittney) Watkins, Kristen (Lukas) Linn, Dan Voetberg, Dave (Oy) Voetberg, Stephanie (Caleb) Cody, and Christina Voetberg; also many great grandchildren who loved her dearly.

Donations can be made to South Church, Lansing, MI in her honor.

Visitation will be at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing on Thursday, December 15 from 6 to 8 pm. A funeral service will be held at Gorsline Runciman on Friday, December 16 at 11 am with visitation 1 hour prior.

Condolences may be shared below for the Watkins family.