Obituary of Paul Vernon Watkins

Paul Vernon Watkins, 93, of Fairmont passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021, at the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility. He was born in Fairmont on February 6, 1927, a son of the late Raymer Lee Watkins and Mary Isabel Fortney Watkins. Paul is survived by his son, David Alan Watkins and his wife Donna of Fairmont; daughters, Linda Paulette Maloney and her husband Steven of Farmington and Julia Christine Troyer and her husband Hugh of Fairmont; eight grandchildren, Ronald K. Southern II and his wife Michelle, Lisa M. Marino and her husband Mike, Scott Watkins, Brandi Watkins, Erin Sailor and her husband Jeremy, Michael Kuhns, Grant Kuhns, and Garan Kuhns; ten great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; one brother, Raymer Dale Watkins and his wife Martha of Arizona; and a sister-in-law, Mary Louise Watkins. In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary Josephine Henderson Watkins; one granddaughter, Jillian Krepps; three brothers, James Allen Watkins, Aurther Lee Watkins, and Robert Eugene Watkins; and his sister, Mary Madeline Bradford. Paul served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked as a 1st class machinist and Westinghouse and Philips Lighting Company. He was a member of Bethesda Baptist Church in Barrackville where he was a former deacon and Sunday school teacher. Paul served as union steward and vice president of I.U.E. #627 and as president of Marion County AFL-CIO. He enjoyed artwork and was a gifted artist. Paul was a jack of all trades, working with brick, block, carpentry, concrete, and machines. The family has entrusted arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, WV 26554. All services will be held privately for the family. A committal service will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.