Mr. Watkins died Wednesday March 25, 2020 in a San Antonio hospital.
James (Jim) Albert Watkins, Jr was born in Jackson, Mississippi to Col. James Albert Watkins, Sr. and Mrs. Charlcie Jones Watkins, on August 31, 1948. He graduated from Ankara High School, in Ankara, Turkey in 1967, and from Excelsior College in Albany, New York in 2006, with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts. Jim was also an alumni of Wood Junior College in Mississippi, prior to serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, in 1970 as a helicopter gunship pilot.
Jim lived a life of service and honor. His military career spanned decades with the U.S. Army, as well as the Texas National Guard, flying and serving in Vietnam, Ft. Hood, Kosovo, Kuwait, Korea, Germany, Iraq and Alabama. Over the span of his career he piloted the UH-1 Iroquois; the OH-6 Cayuse, the Aerostar AS350; and was also a fixed wing pilot. From 1997 until 2010, he flew the AH-64A Apache, and AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack helicopter. In between his military assignations, Jim also worked for the Texas DPS as a police officer, and flew for off-shore oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska; for Houston’s Hermann Hospital Life Flight; for the Exxon Valdez clean up; for the World Health Organization in Africa; and as Flight Director and Lead Pilot for Medivac One at Scott and White Hospital. Jim retired from the U.S. Army in 2010 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4, in Alabama, and then worked in the defense industry in logistics for the Apache helicopter. More recently, until his passing, he worked as a Training Instructor as a Subject Matter Expert for Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
Jim was a loving, funny, Christian man whose faith was mirrored in his character and personality. He was happily married for over 25 years to Patricia Young Watkins (married February 28, 1995). He was also a beloved father and grandfather who enjoyed sharing his faith, and always a fun dose of humor with friends, family and coworkers.
James A. Watkins, Jr. was preceded in death by one son, Woodrow C. Watkins, a sister, Charlcie Jeanne Watkins, his parents James and Charlcie Watkins and his brother-in-law, Gene Earl Peay. Survivors include: his wife Patricia Watkins of Temple, TX; his mother-in-law Louise Sirny; his sister Sandra Watkins Peay of Burleson, TX; daughters Dover Watkins Wernli and her husband Kenneth of Arlington, TX; Lindsey Watkins Cockrell and her husband Kasey of Caddo Mills, TX; sons Reuben Watkins and his wife Tina of Tennessee; Preston Watkins and wife Stephanie of Krum,TX; Brandon Walker and wife Adrienne of Houston; TX and Benjamin Walker of Spokane, Washington; grandchildren Cristopher Binder, Julia Binder, Isabella Wernli, Skyler Watkins, Jayden Watkins, Aria Watkins, Woodrow Jenkins, Cody Jenkins, Tatum Watkins, Elliott Walker, Penelope Walker and Vivienne Walker; and multiple nieces, nephews and extended family.
His medals and commendations include the following: Bronze Star Medal; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Campaign Medal with Campaign Star; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Nato Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; USA Master Aviator Badge.
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