Obituary: Rev. Donald W. Watkins

Rev. Donald W. Watkins

Rev. Donald W. Watkins

Rev. Donald W. Watkins passed away at his home April 20, 2008. He was born to William E. Watkins and Flo B. (Muir) Watkins Sept. 3, 1920, on a farm near Logan, Kan.

He is a graduate of Logan High School, and was employed by Karl Smith Hardware before entering World War II in the Army Air Force Signal Corps. He served 39 months, of which 29 months were overseas duty. He served time as a chaplain in the Santa Ana Army base hospital. He entered the College of Emporia, Emporia, Kan. Upon release from the military, he graduated from there with a B.A. degree. A few years later, C of E bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctor's degree. His seminary education was from Dubuque Theological Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree upon graduation in May 1952. While in seminary, he served a church in Sharpsburg, Iowa, where he was ordained into the ministry by Corning Presbytery in September 1951. He left there after five years of service and served as a Mobile Minister under the Board of National Missions for nine and a half years. The Chapel in the Pines in Red Feather Lakes, Colo., stands today as a tribute to his initiative work to see a church come into being in the Red Feather Lakes community. During his Mobile Ministry service, he always traveled to the last house at the end of the last road. His next call was to LaPorte Presbyterian Church, LaPorte, Colo. He became Moderator of the Synod of Colorado-Utah in 1970. Trinity Presbyterian Church, Prescott, Ariz., called him to their pastorate in 1973, from which he retired in September 1985. Presbytery then called him into service as an associate executive in the work of the small churches and Indian churches. Other interims were in Cottonwood, Ariz., West Valley new church development in Phoenix and Spring Valley, Ariz. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Prescott Valley, Ariz. He served as moderator of the Presbytery of Grand Canyon as well as on various committees of the Presbytery. He also served as president of the Salvation Army board, as well as president of the YMCA board locally. He was an active member of the Noon Lions Club.

He always had time to spend with his wife and family, no mater the amount of work he carried. The family has many memories of wonderful times together.

He is preceded in death by his sister Doris Lorrene (Watkins) Krause; his father, William E. Watkins; and his mother, Flo B. (Muir) Watkins. He is survived by his wife Wilma (Locke) Watkins; daughter Arlene (Watkins) Robinson of Edinburg, Texas; son Duane S. Watkins and wife Cindy (Weber) Watkins; and grandson Austin Watkins of Prescott, Ariz.

Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2008, at Trinity Presbyterian Church. The family suggests memorial contributions be made in Donald's memory to the Trinity Presbyterian Church or the Mingus View Presbyterian Church in Prescott Valley or to Granite Mountain Hospice.

Heritage Memory Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.

Information provided by survivors.


Donate Report a Typo Contact
Most Read