Dale E. Watkins
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
He was born Jan. 31, 1921, in Marshall County, to Henry and Catherine Miller Watkins. On Sept. 15, 1950, in Cleveland, Ohio, he married Mary E. Slabaugh, who survives.
He was a 1939 graduate of Bourbon High School. He was a World War II Army veteran. He served in the South Pacific from 1942-45 with the 115th Combat Engineering Battalion, 40th Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with a Bronze star and the Good Conduct Ribbon. He retired in 1987 from Mutschler Brothers, Nappanee, where he worked for 38 years. He was the manager of the finishing department. He also farmed. He attended Nappanee Missionary Church. He was a former member of Hepton Union Church, where he taught Sunday school and was a superintendent for more than 50 year.
Also surviving are a son, Greg (and spouse Lisa) Watkins, Bourbon; two grandsons; a great-grandson; sisters: June Ganshorn, Etna Green; Cleo Brown, Delores (and spouse Willard) Klotz and Phyllis (and spouse Robert) Blosser, all of Nappanee; and a brother, Ernie (and spouse Eleanor) Watkins, Bourbon. He was preceded in death by four sisters and four brothers.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Nappanee Missionary Church with Pastors Marvin Engbrecht and Norm Reimer officiating. Burial will be in Hepton Union Cemetery with military graveside rites by member of Nappanee American Legion.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials may be given to Nappanee Missionary Church.
Condolences may be sent via www.tlyfh.com[[In-content Ad]]
He was born Jan. 31, 1921, in Marshall County, to Henry and Catherine Miller Watkins. On Sept. 15, 1950, in Cleveland, Ohio, he married Mary E. Slabaugh, who survives.
He was a 1939 graduate of Bourbon High School. He was a World War II Army veteran. He served in the South Pacific from 1942-45 with the 115th Combat Engineering Battalion, 40th Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with a Bronze star and the Good Conduct Ribbon. He retired in 1987 from Mutschler Brothers, Nappanee, where he worked for 38 years. He was the manager of the finishing department. He also farmed. He attended Nappanee Missionary Church. He was a former member of Hepton Union Church, where he taught Sunday school and was a superintendent for more than 50 year.
Also surviving are a son, Greg (and spouse Lisa) Watkins, Bourbon; two grandsons; a great-grandson; sisters: June Ganshorn, Etna Green; Cleo Brown, Delores (and spouse Willard) Klotz and Phyllis (and spouse Robert) Blosser, all of Nappanee; and a brother, Ernie (and spouse Eleanor) Watkins, Bourbon. He was preceded in death by four sisters and four brothers.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Nappanee Missionary Church with Pastors Marvin Engbrecht and Norm Reimer officiating. Burial will be in Hepton Union Cemetery with military graveside rites by member of Nappanee American Legion.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, is in charge of arrangements.
*****
Memorials may be given to Nappanee Missionary Church.
Condolences may be sent via www.tlyfh.com[[In-content Ad]]
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