Howard Watkins Jr.

HOWARD WATKINS

KENTON — Howard N. Watkins Jr. age 78 of Kenton, OH passed away peacefully at home on Friday March 7, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. with his family by his side.

He was born January 30, 1936 in Hardin County, the son of the late Howard N. and Frances (Johnson) Watkins Sr. On April 26, 1959 he married Ruth Ramsey, with whom he would have celebrated 55 years of marriage next month.

Howard loved his family very much and enjoyed the role of husband, dad, grandpa, and brother. His surviving family to carry on his legacy are his wife Ruth Watkins of Kenton, OH; sons Brian Watkins of Dublin, OH and Mark (Marsha) Watkins of Kenton, OH; daughter Alison (Sean) Gill of Worthington, OH; grandchildren Trent (Lacey) Watkins, Meredith Watkins, Graham Watkins, Claire Watkins, Olivia Watkins, Audrey Watkins, and Harrison Gill; and his sister Eleanor (Wayne) Keur of Jenison, MI.

He was preceded in death by a brother Robert Watkins.

Howard was a graduate of Kenton Senior High School in 1954 and a graduate of the Ohio State University in 1958 with a B.S. Degree in Animal Science. He enlisted in the Army ROTC and later served in active duty and was a United States Veteran of the Army. He was a lifelong Farmer in Hardin County. He was also very active in many Hardin County organizations and devoted his time and talents in many different directions. Howard was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kenton, the Alpha Gamma Sigma Fraternity at O.S.U., the Kenton Lion's Club, Kenton Latham Masonic Lodge #163, Hardin Co. Shrine Club, Kenton ELKS Lodge #157, the Republican Colonels Club, was Chairman of the O.S.U. Lima Board of Trustees, a previous Hardin County Commissioner and Hardin County Pleasant Township Trustee, was a longtime Hardin County 4H advisor, currently was the Secretary of C.I.C., Treasurer of the Hardin County Golf Foundation, served as a member of the Kenton City School Board for 12 years, a former bank board member of the Kenton National, Bank One, and most recently the Home Savings and Loan Co., and served on the Farmers Mutual Insurance Board. Early in life he served as a State FFA Officer, was President of Ohio Young Farmers, and was an International Farm Youth Exchange Delegate to New Zealand.

Howard was awarded the Hardin County Citizen of the Year and elected into the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame. As reflected in his many memberships, board positions, commitments, and awards it is clear that Howard had a passion for being with people and time spent with others. He also carried a deep passion for The Ohio State University as an Institution and all that it stood for and represented. In his free time, which he made room for on occasion, you would find Howard on

the golf course as he was an avid golfer.

A service to celebrate the life of Howard N. Watkins Jr. will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Kenton on Wednesday March 12, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Loran Miracle officiating. He will be laid to

rest following the service in Grove Cemetery, Kenton, OH.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday March 11, 2014 at the SCHINDEWOLF STOUT CRATES Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

The family has requested that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church in Kenton, the Hardin County Golf Foundation, and/or the Lima O.S.U. Student Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting stoutcrates.com.