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John W. Watkins, 87, long-time Prospect businessman, educator and former Marion County Commissioner, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, Feb. 15, 2017, in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
He was born June 25, 1929, in Radnor to the late John J. and Lucille Benzler Watkins. On July 26, 1953, he married the former Jacquelyn June Osborn in Radnor, and she died June 22, 1998.
He was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Mable Watkins; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Watkins, Elizabeth Coonfare and Charlotte Watkins.
A 1947 graduate of Radnor High School, he received his bachelor’s degree in 1951 and master’s degree in 1959 from The Ohio State University in agricultural education.
He spent 16 years teaching at Waldo, Prospect and Elgin schools. In 1967 he became a vo-ag supervisor with the State Department of Education serving schools in northwest Ohio, and retired in 1984.
A staunch Republican, he served as Marion County Commissioner from 1984 to 2000.
John was a very civic-minded person, as evidenced by his many active memberships. Among them were lifetime member of the American Vocational Association, Ohio Educational Association, Honorary American Farmer Degree, 65-year Mason member of Hiram Lodge 18 F&AM in Delaware, Aladdin Shrine, NRA, NEA, the Prospect and Delaware Senior Citizens, the Ohio Farm Bureau and member of The Prospect United Methodist Church. He was superintendent of the National FFA Dairy contest, supervisor of the vo-ag state judging contest (which he was asked to come back and judge this past November), introduced the Marion County Hall of Fame, promoted Marion County Park District, Scioto Conservancy District and the Ed Huber Association and was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Council Hall of Fame.
He owned and operated the former Prospect Laundromat and was owner/broker of Prospect Realty.
Family was always at the core of John’s life, from making his home in Prospect the center of activity, to his love affair with Hessel, Mich., where he maintained a vacation home that all of his family enjoyed over the years, this legacy of family togetherness was paramount to John. Sunday family dinners, supporting the Ohio State Buckeyes, Elgin Comets and North Union Wildcats, snowmobiling, waterskiing, traveling all over the world and attending sporting events were just some of the things that John enjoyed with family and friends.
He is survived by four daughters, Deborah (William) Boyle of Bellefontaine, Susan (Marc) Ahmay and Judith Anderson, both of Prospect, and Krista (Tim) Sullivan of Marion; a son, Thomas (Julie) Watkins of Hessel, Mich.; twelve grandchildren, Aric (Brandy) Stover, Jennifer Gossett, Patrick Boyle, Brandi (Jesse) Miller, Kyle Ahmay, Abbey (Nick) Hajjar, Austin (Elizabeth) Sullivan, Sarah Watkins, Benjamin (Tara) Watkins, Katie (Craig) Brandt-Watkins and Kain and Kori Anderson; 13 great-grandchildren, Bailee and Alivia Stover, Makayla Stover, Maria Gossett, Hayze, Nash and Reese Miller, Nickolas and Wesley Hajjar, Thomas, Tanner and Paige Watkins and Lincoln Watkins; a brother, Wayne Watkins of Brookville; and brothers-in-law, Richard Coonfare and Harold Watkins, both of Delaware.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Elgin High School Cafetorium, 1150 S. Keener Road, Marion. Visitors are asked to use the athletic entrance. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the Prospect United Methodist Church with Pastor Carolyn Christman officiating. Burial follows in Prospect Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Marion Community Foundation, 504 State St., Marion, OH 43302 for the John & Jackie Scholarship; checks should be made to the Marion Community Foundation with John Watkins in the memo.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com.