[EasyDNNnews:IfNotExists:Event]Friday, March 4, 2022[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event]
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Longtime resident, avid sports fan, fisherman, gardener
Bob Watkins. (Courtesy photo)
Robert Watkins, 81, died Feb. 20, 2022, at Emerson Hospital with his wife, Laura (Morrison), and son Charlie and his fiancée, Rachel Buff, by his side.
Bob was born in Buffalo, New York, at the Ingleside Home on March 31, 1940, to his biological mother, Doris Hipwell. In 1942 he was adopted and then raised by his parents, Dr. William and Janet Watkins. The family moved to Waynesboro, Virginia, when he was a young child and eventually to Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where Bob attended Swarthmore High School. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1959 and completed some studies at Ohio Wesleyan University before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Dix, Bob completed the Army Security Agency communications course and certification at Fort Devens before being stationed in Asmara, Eritrea, at Kagnew Station until November 1963. He returned to Media, Pennsylvania, with his first wife, Connie (Morgan), and their two children, Lisa and Jeff. They moved to Harvard in 1972.
Throughout his career, Bob’s employment encompassed many aspects in the construction industry, from sales to the management of a concrete drilling company, working for Truco, Boston Contract Drilling, Hamilton Construction, and Star Sales.
Bob met his wife Laura on a blind date, set up by mutual friends, and they were married eight months later in February 1985, just recently celebrating their 37th anniversary. Bob was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, with a genuine devotion to family and friends. He relished vacations at the Jersey shore in Avalon and in East Boothbay, Maine. At home in Harvard, Bob loved his garden, bird-watching, fishing, and all sports. As an avid fan of Bromfield soccer, Bob spent many a fall afternoon cheering on not only his two sons Jeff and Charlie, but also as a fan at many other Bromfield teams.
In retirement, Bob and Laura traveled extensively through Europe, finding a special love and connection to Scotland.
This past summer, Bob connected with his birth family in Westfield, New York, through a DNA search. He loved saying the reunion was one of the happiest moments of his life.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Laura; their son, Charlie, and his fiancée, Rachel Buff; his children Elizabeth Hamilton and Jeffrey Watkins; former wife Connie Morgan Larrabee; three grandchildren, two granddogs, and a bevy of in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Janet Watkins; sister Vanita Anne Watkins; birth parents Robert Wallace and Doris Hipwell Holbrook; and a brother, Robert Wallace Jr.
A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at the Harvard Historical Society. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to: Friends of Harvard Soccer, P.O. Box 432, Harvard, MA; Harvard Lions, P.O. Box 268, Harvard, MA; Harvard Ambulance Service, Attn: Jason Cotting, 40 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA.
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Longtime resident, avid sports fan, fisherman, gardener
Bob Watkins. (Courtesy photo)
Robert Watkins, 81, died Feb. 20, 2022, at Emerson Hospital with his wife, Laura (Morrison), and son Charlie and his fiancée, Rachel Buff, by his side.
Bob was born in Buffalo, New York, at the Ingleside Home on March 31, 1940, to his biological mother, Doris Hipwell. In 1942 he was adopted and then raised by his parents, Dr. William and Janet Watkins. The family moved to Waynesboro, Virginia, when he was a young child and eventually to Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where Bob attended Swarthmore High School. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1959 and completed some studies at Ohio Wesleyan University before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Dix, Bob completed the Army Security Agency communications course and certification at Fort Devens before being stationed in Asmara, Eritrea, at Kagnew Station until November 1963. He returned to Media, Pennsylvania, with his first wife, Connie (Morgan), and their two children, Lisa and Jeff. They moved to Harvard in 1972.
Throughout his career, Bob’s employment encompassed many aspects in the construction industry, from sales to the management of a concrete drilling company, working for Truco, Boston Contract Drilling, Hamilton Construction, and Star Sales.
Bob met his wife Laura on a blind date, set up by mutual friends, and they were married eight months later in February 1985, just recently celebrating their 37th anniversary. Bob was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, with a genuine devotion to family and friends. He relished vacations at the Jersey shore in Avalon and in East Boothbay, Maine. At home in Harvard, Bob loved his garden, bird-watching, fishing, and all sports. As an avid fan of Bromfield soccer, Bob spent many a fall afternoon cheering on not only his two sons Jeff and Charlie, but also as a fan at many other Bromfield teams.
In retirement, Bob and Laura traveled extensively through Europe, finding a special love and connection to Scotland.
This past summer, Bob connected with his birth family in Westfield, New York, through a DNA search. He loved saying the reunion was one of the happiest moments of his life.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Laura; their son, Charlie, and his fiancée, Rachel Buff; his children Elizabeth Hamilton and Jeffrey Watkins; former wife Connie Morgan Larrabee; three grandchildren, two granddogs, and a bevy of in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Janet Watkins; sister Vanita Anne Watkins; birth parents Robert Wallace and Doris Hipwell Holbrook; and a brother, Robert Wallace Jr.
A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at the Harvard Historical Society. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to: Friends of Harvard Soccer, P.O. Box 432, Harvard, MA; Harvard Lions, P.O. Box 268, Harvard, MA; Harvard Ambulance Service, Attn: Jason Cotting, 40 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA.
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