Velma L Watkins

Velma (Wiesenbach) Watkins, age 90, formerly of Murphysboro, Illinois, passed away at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at the Havasu Regional Hospital in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 27, 2010, at Pettett Funeral Home with Rev. Earl Renshaw officiating and burial at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday until the hour of services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Murphysboro or St. Michael's United Methodist Church in Lake Havasu City, AZ, especially to the Missionary or Youth Programs. Velma was born on January 4, 1920, in Vergennes, Illinois, the daughter of George and Dola Wiesenbach. She attended school there and in Murphysboro. Velma married James Watkins on June 27, 1938, and he preceded her in death on June 14, 1981, in Murphysboro. She was a devoted Christian and a former member of the United Methodist Church in Murphysboro. After moving to Lake Havasu City, she joined St. Michael's United Methodist Church. Velma worked tirelessly for her churches including serving on various committees, working with United Methodist Women, arranging or coordinating dinners and rummage sales, baking bread for Sunday visitors, participating in a Walk to Emmaus, and raising money for missionaries and youth groups. Her special ministry was "Pennies from Heaven" which helped provide financial support for her missionary family in Zimbabwe. This past year, her penny donations also provided enough money to help feed many hungry families at Christmas time. In January of this year, for her 90th Birthday, Velma received enough pennies to total $1000. She sent that money to help needy students with their school tuition. If something needed to be done, the phrase, "ask Velma" was used a lot. Her employment history consisted of working at various laundromats, including Todd's in Murphysboro and SIUC, before medical problems forced her retirement. Mrs. Watkins began collecting salt and pepper shakers and depression glass by the hundreds, and graduated to collecting tea pots with just over one thousand in her collection. In her spare time, she enjoyed bunco, bingo, and Mexican Train Dominos. Velma was also the "World's Greatest Mother" and would sacrifice everything for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all of whom loved her very much. She was our "rock" and will be missed greatly. Survivors include her son Harold Watkins of Bakersfield, CA; three daughters Nancy (Watkins) Nichols and her husband Ted Nichols of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Shirley (Watkins) Walker and her husband Dick Walker, and their dog, Shadow--Velma's buddy--of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Carol (Watkins) Wehmeyer of Murphysboro, and son in law Fred Wehmeyer of Murphysboro; two granddaughters: Marcie (Wehmeyer) Mileur, and her husband, Joey Mileur, of Murphysboro; and Janice Watkins of Huntington Beach, CA; two grandsons: Steve Nichols, and his wife, Renee Nichols, of Schaumburg, IL; and Tim Nichols and his wife, Sherry Nichols, of Joliet, IL; one great granddaughter: Lauren Nichols, of Plainfield, IL; five great grandsons: Michael Nichols serving in the Military; Tyler Nichols of Aurora, IL; Jeremy Nichols of Joliet, IL; Cody Wehmeyer and Carter Mileur, both of Murphysboro; a niece, Peggy Schuster, of Murphysboro; a cousin, Floyd Arendell, of Overgard, AZ; a great God-child Brittnay Zabodyn, of Anaheim, CA; and many, many dear friends. Velma was preceded in death by her parents, two younger brothers, her husband, a daughter, Sherry Lynn Watkins, and a grandson, Scott Wehmeyer. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)

Velma L Watkins

January 4, 1920 - September 21, 2010