John H. Watkins

Mr. John H. Watkins passed away Nov. 11, 2002, at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Mo., at the age of 74 years, 2 months & 3 days. John was born Sept. 8, 1928, in Spiro, OK., to Barney A. & Jesse 'Brooks' Watkins. Also preceding were 4 Brothers: James Edward Watkins; George W. Watkins; Fred A. Watkins, & 1 other brother, in-infancy. John attended grade school in a 3-room country school. He played football & baseball & graduated from Spiro High School. He later graduated from Coyne Electronic & Radio School in Chicago & enlisted in the Air Force in Sept. 1949. John graduated from Radio Repair School at Scott Air Force Base & was stationed in the Phillipines for 21 months at Clark Air Force Base. He returned to the US in 1952, as a Staff Sgt. & received his honorable discharge in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1956, fron Northeastern State College in Tallequah, Oklahoma, in Education with a major in Mathematics. He then worked for Haliburton Oil Well Cementing Co., as an Electrical Well Service Engineer. He then began his teaching career in Kansas, teaching High School Math. He accepted a National Science Grant in 1962, in Mathematics at Kansas State College at Pittsburgh, Kansas, where he accepted a position in 1964, at Flat River Junior College as Math Instructor. John's greatest joy in teaching was to see the expressions on students faces when they finally understood the mathematic concepts & went on to further their education via obtaining professional degrees. John had the honor of having his own textbook published by Harper & Roe Publishing Co., in 1974 & being able to teach out of this book until 1990, when it went out of print. John did Post Masters work in 1963 & 1964 at the Univ. of Arkansas. He had a total of 44 different math courses, for a total of 142 college credits in mathematics. John retired from Mineral Area College in 1990, after 32 years of teaching. John was a member of LePere-McCallister American Legion Post #416 of Farmington. John was baptized in the Festus Church of Christ & married Shirley Ann Carron on Aug. 12, 1965. They moved to Farmington, in 1967, when he accepted the teaching position at Mineral Area College. They became members of the Flat River Church of Christ, where he served as Deacon & later on as Elder. SURVIVORS INCLUDE: His WIFE; Shirley Ann 'Carron' Watkins, of Farmington; DAUGHTER: Amy Jo Watkins, of Farmington; 2 SONS: David (& Hope) Watkins, of Nixa, MO; Mark (& Heather) Watkins, of Troy, IL; 2 SISTERS: Mary Reid, of Homewood, IL; Pearl (Mrs. I. J.) Wright, of Spiro, OK; 1 BROTHER: Raymond (& Janice) Watkins, of Krebs, OK; MOTHER-IN-LAW: Viola Carron, of Crystal City, MO; SISTER-IN-LAW: Ilene Watkins, of Castle Rock, CO; 5 GRANDCHILDREN: Nathan; Jacob & Sierra Watkins, of Nixa, MO; Seth & Chloe Watkins, of Troy, IL; Sister-In-Law: Ilene Watkins, of Spiro, OK; Also, a host of Nieces; Nephews; Church family & friends. Visitation Wednesday, 4-9 p.m., resuming Thursday at 7:00 a.m., & funeral Thursday, 11:00 a.m., November 14, 2002, at TAYLOR Funeral Service CHAPEL, Farmington, with Evangelist Bernie Crum officiating. Interment following at Hillview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Farmington. Memorials to: Flat River Church of Christ &/or Heart Transplant Association of St. Louis - PO Box 6115 - Chesterfield, MO. 63006-6115