Warren Watkinson

After a hardfought tenmonth battle with brain cancer, Warren Blair Watkinson entered the kingdom of eternal life on March 1, 2013. Warren was born on January 26, 1942 in Melrose Park, Illinois to Thomas Blair Watkinson and Dorothy Carmen Proctor. Dorothy passed away when Warren was only five years old and his father married Wanda Green.

Warren was the oldest of six children and is survived by brother Thomas and Vicki Watkinson of Warrenton, MO sister Mary Jane and Burke Holt of Independence, MO brother Doug and Rita Watkinson of Rydal, GA and sister Debbie and Steve Beachner of Kansas City, MO. He was preceded in death by sister Linda Meisner of Kennesaw, GA. Warren was also preceded in death by parents Thomas Blair Watkinson, Dorothy Carmen Proctor Watkinson, and Wanda L Watkinson Kruger.

Warren joined the Air Force in 1959 at the age of 17 and served honorably for 20 years in the United States, Newfoundland, and Germany. He married Elizabeth Allison Smith on December 3, 1977. After retiring from the military, Warren worked for General Electric and together with Allison and their three children traveled the world installing mines and paper and steel mills in Honduras, Mexico, The Netherlands, Taiwan, and South Africa, as well as the United States. After giving up the travelling life Warren became Mr. Mom and raised the children during their middle and high school years so Allison could finish her education and become a teacher. After the children left the nest, Warren went to work for American Magnetics Inc in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. After convincing Allison to retire from teaching, they hit the road and became fulltime RVers. Warren and Allison moved to Fort Clark Springs in November 2010 after meeting Sue and Stan Martin at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. They encouraged Warren and Allison to take a side trip and visit Fort Clark Springs and stated you will either love us or hate us. Needless to say, they fell in love with FCS and Brackettville. Because Warren could work from any where in the world as long as he had an Internet connection, he continued working for AMI right up until his brain surgery last April.

Warren is survived by his wife of 35 years, Allison Watkinson of Brackettville, TX, and five children: son Terry Lee and Dawn Watkinson of Stevensville, MD daughter Sherri Lynn and Barbara Watkinson of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada son Warren Blair II and Marcie Watkinson of Belleville, IL daughter Natanya and Bryan Taylor of Johnson City, TN and daughter Natasha and Jason Nedoroscik of Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service with military honors will be held on March 11 at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church of Brackettville. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the churchs Brackettville Outreach Fund FUMC, Brackettville Outreach, PO Box 93, Brackettville, TX 78832.

Interment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

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