Benjamin Ray Watkins, age 69, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden.
Mr. Watkins proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Purple Heart.
The visitation will be 1-2 p.m. today at Spry Memorial Chapel. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel with Brother Gary Yielding and Brother Scott Delashaw officiating. Burial will be at Vandiver Hollow Cemetery in Tuscumbia with full military honors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary Jane Watkins; father-in-law, A.G. Dill; and two brothers, Stanley Watkins and Leroy Watkins.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Amanda Dill Watkins; his son, Alan Watkins (wife Cheryl), of Stapleton, Alabama; stepchildren, Jada Wilson (husband Brandon), of Phil Campbell, and Jeremy Smith, of Florence; grandchildren, Morgan Watkins and Madegan Watkins; stepgrandchildren, Brandon Clayton, Brayden Wilson, Bentley Wilson, and Maddie Cooper; siblings, Carrie Meek, Muscle Shoals, Mary Bracken, Tuscumbia, Elizabeth Wood, Cherokee, Elisie Costantino, Florence, and Wilda Massey, Illinois; mother-in-law, Betty Dill; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To leave private condolences, please visit our website at sprymemorialchapel.com.
