Reginald Floyd Watkins was born Sept. 15, 1928, near Golden, Colo., to Kent O’Kelly Watkins and Dorothy Bernice (Wisely) Watkins. Beloved husband, patriarch, and cornerstone of the family, he is survived by his beloved wife Twila and their six children, Craig, Patty (Dennis) Summers, Kathy Robinson, Paul (Lee), Janyce (Rev. James) Butler and Carol (Brian) Lippert; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Bob Watkins, of Lafayette, Colo.; and a nephew, Ron Watkins, of Aurora, Colo.
Reg and Twila were married Aug. 27, 1950, and celebrated their 65th anniversary this year.
Reg was born at the end of the horse-drawn farming era. He plowed with horses as a teen around Denver. He also had a newspaper route, delivering papers on horseback. Reg hauled road oil, gas and kerosene in the Colorado mountains beginning in 1949. He said going over Loveland Pass in a semi required stopping and backing up to get around hairpin curves in those days.
Reg joined the Operating Engineers in 1950 and began operating heavy equipment. He had a varied career. In the 1950s, he worked on the Eisenhower Tunnel under Loveland Pass, Colo., for four years. In 1960-61 he worked on the Minuteman missile silos at Deertrail, in eastern Colorado. Dad worked on Stapleton Airport in Denver in 1959, and on Denver International Airport in 1991.
In 1966, Reg moved to Missouri with his wife and children, and worked at Lake City Ammunition Plant for four years. He always loved adventure and worked on the Alaskan Pipeline from 1974-1977 as a mechanic and a heavy equipment operator. He lived in several of the camps, and even though there were 20,000 men working, met many acquaintances from Colorado and Missouri.
In 1975, working north of Prudhoe Bay, he saw a 10-foot-high mammoth tusk sticking out of the ice. It was the diameter of a dinner plate. He believed the rest of the mammoth was quick-frozen below. He helped excavate the old west town of Dillon, Colo., in the ’60s, which now lies beneath 200 feet of water. He told us they flipped over 100-year-old wooden sidewalks and laborers rushed in to gather old coins. Reg retired in 1992.
Dad was a very positive person and “put the best construction” on any problem. He told his son, Paul, last year that he loved his job most every day and it seldom was a chore to him. At his 134-acre farm near Lawson, Mo., he built a small cattle herd and spent the last of his retirement years in the enjoyment of their care.
Reg was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Denver, Colo., where he and Twila were married in 1950 by Rev. Reinhold Hingst. Dad was a devout Christian and member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Excelsior Springs, Mo., since 1967. Dad gained incredible knowledge of the Bible throughout the years. He was content with his lot in life, knowing God would supply his needs. He passed away peacefully minutes after Pastor James Gier of Mt. Calvary read to him Psalm 23. We celebrate as Dad is now with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, 217 W. Broadway, Excelsior Springs, Mo. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Excelsior Springs. The funeral will be followed by a graveside service at Old Union Cemetery, Lawson, Mo., then a reception at the church. Arrangements are through Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, 816-630-3131.
Memorial donations may be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 1215 Baldwin Ln., Excelsior Springs, MO 64024.