Robert Keith Watkins, 95 of Lancaster, Missouri passed away at the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri on June 17, 2023 where he had been a resident since May 17, 2023.
The son of Lawrence Daniel and Flora (Kelly) Watkins, he was born in Coatsville, Missouri on March 19, 1928.
He was a graduate of Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Missouri. Following graduation, he attended and graduated from barber school in Kansas City, Missouri and came back to Lancaster, Missouri to work with his father-in-law as a barber. After several years working as a barber, Robert attended Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri, where he obtained a master’s degree and became a teacher and later became principal at Schuyler County R-I High School in Lancaster, Missouri.
On April 16, 1949, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Maureen Shepherd in Lancaster, Missouri at the home of her parents and to this union three children were born, Daniel Edison and twin daughters, Donna Lue and Dianna Sue.
Survivors include his children, Dan Watkins and wife, Judy of Kansas City, Missouri, Donna Norman and husband, Doug of Downing, Missouri and Dianna Kinney and husband, Richard of Lancaster, Missouri; five grandchildren, Curtis Kinney of Lancaster, Missouri, Adam Watkins and wife, Kelly of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, Melinda Shrout and husband, Steven of Loveland, Colorado, Joel Norman and wife, Amy of Moberly, Missouri and Jonathon Norman and wife, Alisha of Prosper, Texas; ten great grandchildren, Mabel and Hazel Watkins of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, Glorianna, Elizabeth, Annalisa, Lucilla and Levi Shrout of Loveland, Colorado, Valan Norman of Moberly, Missouri and Aven and Rowen Norman of Prosper, Texas; three nieces, Sandra Andrews and husband, Dave of Sherman, Texas, Nancy Neadick and husband, Artie of Quincy, Illinois and Kathy Quintero and husband, Jose of Quincy, Illinois; two nephews, Bruce Hall and wife, Shirley and Lewis Hall both of Rolla, Missouri; several great nieces and nephews and other family members.
Preceding Robert in death are his parents; his wife, Elizabeth Maureen Watkins on September 5, 2016 and two brothers, Kelly and Dwane Watkins.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lancaster Christian Church in Lancaster, Missouri with Mark Drummond of Lancaster, Missouri officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri with Masonic services to be held at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Arni Memorial Cemetery. Burial will be in the Arni Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster, Missouri.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.