J. R. Watkins
1952

J. R. Watkins Rites Saturday Veteran Contractor Died Here Thursday
Funeral services for Joseph R. Watkins, 75, a member of the building and contracting business for approximately 40 years, whose last contracts were in Maryville, Tenn., constructing homes for the Alcoa Company, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the East Lake Baptist Church.
Mr. Watkins died Thursday (June 12, 1952) afternoon at his residence at 3214 12th Avenue.
His work in Maryville included building one hundred homes for the employees of the aluminum company.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth McGregor Watkins; two sons, W. C. and J. A. Watkins of Memphis, Tenn.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Graceman of Muncie, Ind., three brothers, Hugh Watkins of Los Angeles, Calif.; Lige Watkins, Knoxville, Tenn.; Arthur Watkins, Cleveland, Tenn.; five sisters, Mrs. Callie Dowdy, Knoxville, Tenn.; Mrs. Josie Watson, Miami, Fla.; Mrs. Ella Scarbrough, Etowah, Tenn.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery.  Active pallbearers will be Robert Slater, Luther Owens, Vincent Gagliano, Paul Woods, Roy Warlick and Tom A. Foster.  Honorary pallbearers will be F. M. Walls, Ira Page, W. M. Cotten, L. Colletta, G. W. Burgur, J. L. Newman, V. L. Robinson, Park Conley and Jon Baker.  The body will remain at the National Funeral Home until the hour of services.

Submitted by Susan Kendall
SusieQ1160@aol.com