Delbert D. Watkins
November 25, 1918 — February 10, 2015
Delbert D. Watkins
Delbert D. Watkins, age 96, passed away on February 10, 2015 surrounded by his family. Del was born on November 25, 1918 in Midvale, Idaho to James Mathew Watkins and Lucinda Jane Evans. On December 23, 1937, Del married his childhood sweetheart and wife Audrey Marie Smith, in Ontario, Oregon.
Del was an exceedingly gentle, generous and warmhearted man. He was very proud of his hard work at Consolidated Freightways for 44 years in Boise and Salt Lake City. For many of those years, he was also a rancher and enjoyed that lifestyle despite the hardship and additional work, much of which was done at night with tractor lights. Del loved dogs and training them, and his best friend Mac misses him. Del was athletic (a four-year, several-sport letterman) and once sported 22 inch biceps, often teasing his grandson to try to match them in size. Del's greatest joy came from his relationship with Marie. First meeting when he was 8 and she was 7, they spent the rest of their lives together until her passing at age 90. They built a happy and joyful life together and made a habit of acting younger than they were. They were devoted to their son, daughter-in-law and grandson, who are forever grateful. Del loved fixing pancakes for Mac and friends in his Good Sams travel club, a meal he was able to enjoy on the very last day of his life.
Cremation has occurred. A graveside memorial for Del and Marie will be held in Boise this summer.
Del is survived by his son Glen, daughter-in-law Terri Hull-Watkins, grandson Will, nieces and nephews Fern Watt (Bill), Denison Smith, Randall Smith (Marilyn), Bruce Rosin, Joseph Guilford (Connie), Nancy Watkins, and members of the Smith and Hull families across the country. Dad was preceded in death by his wife, daughter Janet May Watkins, parents, sisters and brothers Ora Rosin (Sherman), Mary Guilford (Leslie), Wayne Watkins and Fred Watkins; sisters- and brothers-in-law Pluma and Rudy LaValley, and Nolan and Beth Smith.
The family wishes to thank the many caregivers at St. Mark's Hospital and Rocky Mountain Hospice who cared for Del, and the Meals on Wheels volunteers. They contributed greatly to his comfort in his final months.
Del loved and cared for dogs throughout his life and his family encourages contributions to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
Del was an exceedingly gentle, generous and warmhearted man. He was very proud of his hard work at Consolidated Freightways for 44 years in Boise and Salt Lake City. For many of those years, he was also a rancher and enjoyed that lifestyle despite the hardship and additional work, much of which was done at night with tractor lights. Del loved dogs and training them, and his best friend Mac misses him. Del was athletic (a four-year, several-sport letterman) and once sported 22 inch biceps, often teasing his grandson to try to match them in size. Del's greatest joy came from his relationship with Marie. First meeting when he was 8 and she was 7, they spent the rest of their lives together until her passing at age 90. They built a happy and joyful life together and made a habit of acting younger than they were. They were devoted to their son, daughter-in-law and grandson, who are forever grateful. Del loved fixing pancakes for Mac and friends in his Good Sams travel club, a meal he was able to enjoy on the very last day of his life.
Cremation has occurred. A graveside memorial for Del and Marie will be held in Boise this summer.
Del is survived by his son Glen, daughter-in-law Terri Hull-Watkins, grandson Will, nieces and nephews Fern Watt (Bill), Denison Smith, Randall Smith (Marilyn), Bruce Rosin, Joseph Guilford (Connie), Nancy Watkins, and members of the Smith and Hull families across the country. Dad was preceded in death by his wife, daughter Janet May Watkins, parents, sisters and brothers Ora Rosin (Sherman), Mary Guilford (Leslie), Wayne Watkins and Fred Watkins; sisters- and brothers-in-law Pluma and Rudy LaValley, and Nolan and Beth Smith.
The family wishes to thank the many caregivers at St. Mark's Hospital and Rocky Mountain Hospice who cared for Del, and the Meals on Wheels volunteers. They contributed greatly to his comfort in his final months.
Del loved and cared for dogs throughout his life and his family encourages contributions to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
