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Armin WATKINS Obituary
of Burnsville, NC, son of James Rufus and Florence Lucile Watkins, passed away May 12, 2018 after battling cancer for five years. He was born in Skokie, IL July 23, 1931. Armin graduated with a BA and MA from Yale, then a PhD at Indiana. Dr. Watkins taught music at USF in Tampa until retiring in 1997. He will be missed by his beloved wife, Gretchen and five children, Catherine Bringerud, Claudia (Kim) Brown, Carrie (Mark) Collins, Christopher (Jan) Watkins, Byron Watkins; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Tuesday, June 5, 10 am, at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa (Lutz), FL. In lieu of flowers, donate to www.HospiceOfYancey.org or www.NFCR.org
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Memories and Condolences
for Armin WATKINS
5 Entries
Drucilla M Neeley
May 12, 2025
Still remembering the Watkins Family (Gretchen, Byron, too), as also part of the L. Ray Stidham experience while I was his main caregiver and team leader at his home on Sanibel. I recall the enduring time that Gretchen went through to care for Armin, and her expressions of how much she loved him. I bid you peace and serenity.
Carolyn Speed
May 11, 2020
He was a fine man and a wonderful musician and teacher. I started studying piano with him at USF in 1960, as a Sr in high school. I still have music he notated for me.
A special memory is playing piano while he played violin, while a platform raised from the basement of the university theater, before a stage play. We played an overly romantic version of "I Dream of Jeanie ", which he arranged. Great fun.
I'll never forget him.
Drucilla M Neeley
May 31, 2018
We are asking of God to soothe, heal and fill the heart of Gretchen Watkins in the loss of her husband, Armin, after such a long endearing journey of being by his side, trying to bring him through the many health issues he endured. We are sorry for her loss and send our prayers & best wishes her own serenity. WE- are the Caregivers of her father, L. Raymond Stidham, on Sanibel Island, FL. May All family find comfort through Mercy, Grace and Love , from Our Father in Heaven.
Carolyn Speed
May 25, 2018
He was an inspiring teacher and a fine man. It was a privilege to study piano under him at USF, starting in 1960, while I was still in HS.
Armin and Averill backstage at USF c.1963
Averill Summer
May 23, 2018
We are so very sorry to hear of Armin's passing. I was very fortunate to have studied with him from 1960 to 1963. He was very generous as a teacher to allow me to perform in concerts with him and to arrange the opportunity for me to study at Aspen for a summer. I learned so much from him and valued his friendship as a colleague when we later worked on the same faculty at USF. My love to his family, especially Byron and Gretchen.
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Funeral services provided by:
Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home, Inc.501 East Main Street, Burnsville, NC 28714
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