John W. Watkins

John W. Watkins, 87, long-time Prospect businessman, educator and former Marion County Commissioner, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, February 15, 2017 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.   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 step-mother, 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.   John 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 1984-2000.     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, member of the Prospect  and Delaware Senior Citizens, member of the Ohio Farm Bureau, member of  The Prospect United Methodist Church, 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 2016), introduced the Marion County Hall of Fame, promoted  Marion County Park District, Scioto Conservancy District and the Ed  Huber Association, owned and operated the former Prospect Laundromat, inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Council Hall of Fame,  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,  Michigan 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, 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,  Bellefontaine; Susan (Marc) Ahmay, Prospect; Krista (Tim) Sullivan,  Marion; Judith Anderson, Prospect; a son, Thomas (Julie) Watkins,  Hessel, Michigan; 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, Kain and Kori Anderson; thirteen  great-grandchildren, Bailee and Alivia Stover, Makayla Stover, Maria Gossett, Hayze, Nash and Reese Miller, Nickolas  and Wesley Hajjar, Thomas, Tanner and Paige Watkins, Lincoln Wakins; a  brother, Wayne Watkins, Brookville; brothers-in-law, Richard Coonfare  and Harold Watkins, Delaware.   Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the  Prospect United Methodist Church with Pastor Carolyn Christman  officiating.  Burial will follow in Prospect Cemetery.  Friends may call  Monday from 2 to 8 PM at the Elgin High School Cafetorium 1239 Keener Road South Marion, OH 43302. Visitors are asked to use the  Athletic entrance.   Memorial gifts may be made to John & Jackie Watkins Scholarship c/o  the Marion Community Foundation 504 S State St, Marion, OH 43302