Gilmer Oneil Watkins Obituary (1947 - 2022)

Gilmer Oneil Watkins, 74, passed away, Monday, February 14, 2022, at his home on his family farm in Lawsonville, NC. A graveside service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, February 18, 2022, at Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, February 17, at Colonial Funeral Home Stokes Chapel. The family requests that masks be worn. Oneil was born on May 5, 1947, to Peter Dee Watkins and Erma Virginia Corns Watkins. He worked at his family's business, Watkins Feed Mill, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, and was a dispatcher for Stokes County EMS for many years. In addition to working various jobs, he and his best friend Wayne Tilley operated Watkins/Tilley Tobacco Farm. They raised several acres together and traded tobacco equipment. He and Wayne went to Hardee's in Stuart, VA to get a biscuit almost every morning. Some of his favorite hobbies were traveling and baseball. In his younger years, he played softball for the Sandy Ridge Loafers. He traveled to all the major league baseball parks in the United States. He could be found watching The Andy Griffith Show as often as he could. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, Sam and Erick. In addition to his parents, Oneil was preceded in death by his step-son, Jeff Brinkley. Survivors include his loving wife, Louise Watson Watkins; two daughters, Lori Watkins Jensen (Thor Jensen) and Tracy Watkins (Clay Park); two grandchildren, Sam Jensen and Erick Jensen; a brother, Bruce Watkins; and two step-grandchildren, Jeanna Brinkley and Jerry Brinkley. His best friend, Wayne, was like a brother to him. Memorials may be made to Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 6561 NC 8 Hwy N, Lawsonville, NC 27022 or Stokes County Senior Service Meals on Wheels, PO Box 29, Danbury, NC 27016. Colonial Funeral Home Stokes Chapel is serving the family.