Samuel I. Watkins
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
SOUTH WHITLEY - Samuel I. Watkins, 77, of rural South Whitley, died at 11:43 p.m. Nov. 30, 2010, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was transported earlier in the evening.
He was born Feb. 6, 1933, in Vancleve, Ky., to Ballard and Lida Smith Watkins. On Jan. 29, 1957, he married Helen Clemons, who survives.
He completed his education in the Perry County Schools. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Europe during the Korean War and was honorably discharged Aug. 31, 1961. He lived in Kentucky until January 1966 when he moved to Whitley County. He was a coal miner until moving to Indiana when he began working at Arnolt Corp., Pierceton, until 1972, when he began working at LML, Columbia City, until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of Free United Baptist Church near Pierceton.
Also surviving are eight sons: Glen (and spouse Mary) Watkins, Allentown, Pa.; Mack Allen (and spouse Shirley) Pratt, Pierceton; Kenneth Ray Pratt, Robert G. (and spouse Lisa) Watkins and Gilbert D. Watkins, all of South Whitley; Benjamin James (and spouse Sandra) Pratt, Austin; George Ballard Watkins, Kendallville; and Samuel David Watkins, Columbia City; two daughters, Barbara J. Baker, South Whitley, and Lida Kay (and spouse Richard) Rebman, Larwill; 32 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter and two brothers.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will be in Booneville Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be made to Free United Baptist Church.
Condolences may be sent via www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]
SOUTH WHITLEY - Samuel I. Watkins, 77, of rural South Whitley, died at 11:43 p.m. Nov. 30, 2010, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was transported earlier in the evening.
He was born Feb. 6, 1933, in Vancleve, Ky., to Ballard and Lida Smith Watkins. On Jan. 29, 1957, he married Helen Clemons, who survives.
He completed his education in the Perry County Schools. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Europe during the Korean War and was honorably discharged Aug. 31, 1961. He lived in Kentucky until January 1966 when he moved to Whitley County. He was a coal miner until moving to Indiana when he began working at Arnolt Corp., Pierceton, until 1972, when he began working at LML, Columbia City, until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of Free United Baptist Church near Pierceton.
Also surviving are eight sons: Glen (and spouse Mary) Watkins, Allentown, Pa.; Mack Allen (and spouse Shirley) Pratt, Pierceton; Kenneth Ray Pratt, Robert G. (and spouse Lisa) Watkins and Gilbert D. Watkins, all of South Whitley; Benjamin James (and spouse Sandra) Pratt, Austin; George Ballard Watkins, Kendallville; and Samuel David Watkins, Columbia City; two daughters, Barbara J. Baker, South Whitley, and Lida Kay (and spouse Richard) Rebman, Larwill; 32 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter and two brothers.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will be in Booneville Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be made to Free United Baptist Church.
Condolences may be sent via www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092