Ronald Phillip Watkins

Mr. Watkins was born May 3, 1930 to the late James and Sophia Watkins in Hamilton, Ohio. He served our country proudly as QMC in the U.S. Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars retiring in 1967 after 20 years of service. He also worked as Chief Survey Tech for NOAA retiring in 1985 after 15 years of service. Mr. Watkins was active in community and a long standing member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. He was a proud and devoted Mason and was Past Master Bayside Lodge 218, Past District Deputy Grandmaster 56th Masonic District, Past Eminent-Commander Knights Templar, Past High Priest P.A. Royal Arch Chapter 1607, Past Sovereign Master Allied Mason Degree P.A. Council 129, Past District Deputy STC District 22 Tall Cedars of Lebanon Neptune Forest, Past Worthy Patron Bayside Chapter 181 OES, as well as member of Scottish Rite and National Sojourners. Ronald was also Past Governor of Aragona Moose Lodge 1198 and lifetime member. He enjoyed his family and friends and will always be remembered as loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be deeply missed.

Left to cherish his memory are: son, David Phillip Watkins and wife Patricia; daughter, Rhonda Robin Cole; two granddaughters: Cybil Leighann Billie and husband Scott, Jennifer Lynn Luck and husband Steven; three grandsons: Phillip James Watkins, Jeffery Paul Watkins, and Matthew Aaron Cole; five great-granddaughters: Sophia Rose Billie, Allison Leighann Billie, Lillian Symphony Luck, Kendra Robin Cole, Mia Bailey Cole, and Alexis Hope Watkins; and one great-grandson, Jonathan Kyle Billie. Mr. Watkins is preceded in death by his wife Edna Betty Annette Rezac Watkins.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-9:00 pm, Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home with Masonic service at 7:00 pm. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 4200 Shore Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23455. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Ronald requested any Memorial donations be made to Masonic Home of VA, Shrine Hospitals or Tall Cedars MDA. Please share your love and condolences with the family at www.kellumfuneralhome.com