William Philip Watkins

William Philip “Phil” Watkins, 63, of Colleyville, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 1, 2018, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas with his family by his side. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him.

Phil was born in Greenville, Texas, on July 21, 1954, to Billie Hardin Watkins and Dorothy Johnston Watkins. He was a 1972 graduate of Greenville High School, where he served as Drum Major of the Greenville High School Marching Band. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and from The University of Dallas in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He became a registered Professional Engineer in 1983. Phil spent his entire working career as an Engineer in the utility industry (Texas Utilities and Atmos Energy), having just recently celebrated his 40th working anniversary prior to his retirement in 2017. He loved to play golf with his buddies and was looking forward to the next golf game prior to his untimely death from complications from lymphoma.

In 1977, Phil came to Fort Worth to begin his career with Texas Utilities. He also began attending Polytechnic United Methodist Church where he was active in the Young Adults Sunday School class and where he met his soon-to-be-wife Sally Kay Hiett. Phil and Sally were married on January 3, 1981, and although their union was never blessed with children, they had two nephews who they loved as their own sons. And they always had a cat or two sharing their home with them. Friends and family knew them as inseparable and a very loving and devoted couple.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Sally Hiett Watkins, of Colleyville, Texas; brother Steve Watkins and his wife Sarah, of Rockwall, Texas; nephew Brad Watkins and his wife Shannon, of Melissa, Texas; nephew Clay Watkins and his fiancée Cindy Johnson, of Austin, Texas; aunt Bettye Ice and her husband Lanny, of Monahans, Texas; aunt Mary Nell Harn, of Clinton, Mississippi; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Watkins, in 1994, and his mother, Dorothy Watkins, in 2003. He was also preceded in death by his favorite cat friend, Zak, who had passed away just two weeks prior. May they be reunited in heaven.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Chapel, 5725 Colleyville Boulevard, Colleyville, Texas. There will be a reception following the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 East Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76103.