- Date Of Birth: March 16, 1927
- Date Of Death: June 25, 2021
- State: Michigan
Robert Glenn Watkins of Kalamazoo, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021, at the age of 94. He was born on March 16, 1927, in Strong City, Kansas, the son of the late Evan and Loretta Watkins. On February 17, 1951, he married Nira Belle Watkins (Scarborough), who survives, and lives in Kalamazoo. Bob and Nira met in Sunday School at a Methodist church in Wichita, Kansas, and together shared 70+ years of marriage.
Bob attended Strong City High School, in Strong City, Kansas, and, UCLA, after World War II. During the war, Bob was a radio and communications specialist and afterwards served with the United States occupying force in Korea. For most of his career, Bob worked in the heating and air conditioning industry, retiring as a Customer Service Engineer for York Air Conditioning.
He was curious about everything and enjoyed woodworking, model building, and tinkering with all types of electronics and machinery. Bob also loved to travel, often photographing flowers and gardens, and he enjoyed a good crossword puzzle, as well as chocolate, and his late cat, Pancho.
Surviving are: his wife, Nira; children: Charles (Barbara) Watkins, Carol (Steven) Watkins-Babcock, Katherine (James) Yoshida and five grandchildren: Olivia Watkins, Michael Watkins, Nora Watkins, Stephen Yoshida and William Yoshida. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Maynard (Lois) Watkins, Marvin (Nita) Watkins and Inez Milewski.
