Richard S. Watkins

Captain Richard S Watkins (Retired)

He served in the US Navy from 1961-1991 and completed multiple deployments to the Middle East and Mediterranean. He was naturally comfortable aboard a Navy platform and thoroughly enjoyed being at sea. Following his Naval service, Richard worked primarily in the nuclear regulatory safety and health profession with Battelle and Bectel Corporations. He and his wife Deborah established residency in Taos, New Mexico as far back as the early 1980s and eventually lived in Taos year-round at the turn of the century. In 2022, they moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to family. Richard was a devout catholic and a firm believer in service to his community. He was a chair member of Taos' Men Against Violence chapter and served extensively in various positions in the church, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Taos. Richard's favorite pastimes included golf and reading, and he was affectionately known by many as a social butterfly. He is preceded in death by his son Michael in 2007 and survived by his wife, Deborah Watkins, their son John Watkins (Michelle), and grandsons John Adams Watkins II and Joshua Watkins. The service will be Saturday, March 8 at Our Lady of Guadalupe at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Cancer Society.