Earle Watkins, 99, of Southborough

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Southborough – Earle Quenten Watkins, 99, of Southborough died peacefully at UMass Medical Center Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 after a short illness. He was the husband of Eleanor Eva (Woodbury) Watkins, who passed away in 1987.

He was the son of Charles Edgar Watkins and Esther Winnifred Nourse Watkins.

A lifetime resident of Southborough, he was born in the town “upstairs in the front room.” Earle graduated from Peter’s High School in 1934 and received an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Construction from Wentworth Institute in 1936.

Earle began his 44-year career in quality control at Warren Telechron in Ashland, later G.E. Telechron and then Timex, retiring in 1980.

In 1943, he married Eleanor before joining the army. Earle was then assigned to Company F of the 1308 Engineers. He was stationed in England and then France where his unit was sent to the Battle of the Bulge where the unit formed a defense line along the Meuse River near the Belgium border. His unit was later assigned to Normandy to be post engineers at Camp Lucky Strike near Le Havre, and then to Nice on the Riviera to build an R&R for troops on leave. In 1945 the unit was sent to Marseilles to board a ship headed for the Pacific theater of the war. They landed on Okinawa, and then were sent to Korea. He was discharged from the army in January 1946.

Earle and Eleanor had two sons, Jeffrey Charles Watkins (1947) of Northborough and Jonathan Woodbury Watkins (1950-2009). In addition to his son, Jeffrey, he leaves his daughter-in-law, Diane Watkins of Hubbardston, his grandchildren, Megan Powers and her husband James and Deirdre Watkins, both of Hubbardston, and Joshua Watkins and his wife Barbara of West Boylston; a great-granddaughter, Moira Powers; his nephew, Carmen Yon of Fitzwilliam, N.H.; and his nieces, Mary Jo Bove Parker of Newmarket, N.H. and Portia Yon of Acworth, Ga.

Earle loved the town of Southborough and was active in the community. He was a member of the Southborough VFW and the American Legion. He was a past member of the Southborough Historical Commission, and the Southborough Historical Society. He was a member of the Southborough Companies of Militia and Minute from 1969 to 1986; Col./Commander 1970-71. He was a member of the First Community Church of Southborough.

Earle had a generous and thoughtful heart; he loved Christmas and started accumulating gifts months ahead of time. He enjoyed stamp collecting, woodworking, fishing, boating, model railroading, photography, archery, gardening, camping, history, auto mechanics; his interests were seemingly endless. He never stopped learning something new.

Earle would have been 100 years old Nov. 17, 2016.

There are no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m., at First Community Church, 137 Southville Rd., Southborough. Burial will be private in the Southborough Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in his memory to the First Community Church, 137 Southville Rd., Southborough, MA 01772.

Arrangements are under the care of the Morris Funeral Home of Southborough. To leave words of condolence to the family, visit www.morrisfuneralparlor.com.

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