Samuel James Watkins

SAMUEL J. WATKINS, SR., 62, died unexpectedly in his Bolivar home on Wednesday morning, December 18, 2002. Sam was born in New Philadelphia on April 11, 1940 to Vivian May Watson Watkins and the late Paul Revere Watkins. In 1958 he graduated from New Philadelphia High School and later attended the University of Akron. During the Vietnam war, Sam served honorably with the U. S. Air Force. He retired from Ohio Edison where he worked in substation design and surveying. After he retired, Sam worked as a surveyor for Bair Goodie & Associates for several years. Most recently, Sam worked with his son-in-law at Lowe’s. Sam was a member of the N. R. A. as well as the Academy of Model Aeronautics. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Sheila L. Harrington Watkins, whom he married June 10, 1967; daughter, Sarah (Philip) Butcher of Wainwright; son, Samuel J. (Deborah) Watkins, Jr., mother, Vivian Watkins, granddaughter, Stacie Watkins, and sister, Rosie (David) Lomax, all of New Philadelphia; brother, Robert (Linda) Watkins of Concord, CA. Calling hours will be Sunday, December 22, 2002 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home where the funeral will be conducted Monday, December 23, 2002 at 11:00 AM with Elder Glenn Carlisle officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgecrest Memory Gardens. Following the committal, a reception will be given in the Community of Christ Church, 515 Church Ave., SW in New Philadelphia.