| Graduation Year | Class of 1945 |
| Date of Passing | Sep 07, 2021 |
| About | Mr. William A. Watkins, Jr., 93, of Frederick, Maryland Passed away September 7, 2021. Born December 18, 1927 in Frederick, MD, he was the son of the late William A. and Stella Watkins, Sr. William grew up on his father's dairy farms first in Shookstown, MD, then Walkersville, MD. He went to Parkway and Elem St. schools in Frederick through 6th, then finished 7th grade at Walkersville. He graduated with Walkersville High class of 1945. He signed up for the United States Army Air Force for three years and requested the Pacific Theater of operation. After his military training, he became part of the occupation forces in Japan, stationed at Johnson AFB. He was then transferred to Kimpo AFB in South Korea. He served there until 1948 when he returned to the United States for discharge. July 1950 he was recalled into the United States Air Force for the Korean Conflict for one year. William went to school in Tonawanda New York at Wurlitzer organ company to learn repair and installation of organs in churches and private homes. During the fifties, he did repairs of old TVs in the general Frederick area along with the church organ repairs. He worked for the B&O Railroad as a tower operator controlling train movements. 1960 he worked with the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller, working at Washington National Airport and even at the Air Traffic Control center in Leesburg, VA. He retired from the FAA after a total of thirty years and eleven months, which included four years with the Air Force, January 3, 1978. After retirement, William taught driver education for several years. He did some traveling, Portugal to visit several friends, then Spain, Germany, and France. He visited the American Military Graveyard and the D-Day beaches of France. He was impressed how the French kept the graveyard spotless. He and a friend and another couple went to Hawaii and took a cruise ship all around the Islands. He and a friend took a cruise to Bermuda, and spent a week in Jamaica. They flew to Anchorage, Alaska, and then a cruise back to Vancouver, and flew back to Washington. Then, they spent vacation time in Cancun. William and his wife Jane spent vacations in different parts of Florida. William was a commercial rated pilot, qualified to fly single and multi-engine aircraft. He and a friend, Frank Freed, owned several military surplus aircraft, and several different types of civilian aircraft for their flying pleasure. In the 50s and 60s, he was a Pilot in the CAP and a member of the Frederick Flying Club for a few years. He owned a Honda Interstate motorcycle which he loved riding. He did some boating and skiing on the Potomac River. He also played some golf with friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Stella; three sisters, Eleanor Wenner of Brunswick, MD, Beatrice Brady of Hagerstown, MD, and Francies Hannon of Boston, MA; and a nephew, Judge William A. Wenner of Brunswick, MD. His mother was injured in an automobile accident and passed when he was three years old- he was raised by a stepmother, Mary Watkins. William was twice married. His first wife, Margaret Swane of Frederick, MD, and Jane Fleming of Frederick, MD are both deceased. He is survived by a son, Larry Watkins of Jacksonville, FL; stepson, Clinton Fleming and wife Dawn of Myersville, MD; nephew, John Reed Brady and wife of Lexington, KY; niece, Ann Wenner Osteen and husband of Savannah, GA; three great-nephews, Peter Wenner and wife of San Francisco, CA, Richard Brady and wife of Frederick, MD, and Sean Brady and wife and children of Hatfield, MA; and great niece Eleanor Kerr and husband and daughter of Washington, DC. William will be cremated and his remains will be interred in the Military section of Resthaven Memorial Gardens. At his request, there will not be any funeral service. |
