Imogene Richardson Watkins

Imogene Richardson Watkins passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Edward Earl and Aurora Flossie Hammock Richardson and was born August 22, 1916 in Alvord, Wise County, Texas.

Funeral service is 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30. 2020 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur with burial in Aurora Cemetery. Dr. Ken May and Gerre Joiner will officiate.  There is no set family visitation.

Pallbearers include Anthony Barron, Thomas Watkins, Whit Collier, K.C. McCurdy, Kyle McCurdy, and Joe Max Wilson. Honorary pallbearer will be Wyatt Barron.

Imogene grew up in Alvord, Newark and Rhome, Texas.  She graduated from Rhome High School in May 1933.  She was a lifelong member of the Birdville and Decatur First Baptist Churches. She sang in the church choirs and performed at the Reverend Billy Graham’s Revival service in Fort Worth.

She was united in holy matrimony to Homer Irvin “Pete” Watkins in June 1933.  Their union was blessed with their only son, Thomas Hilton Watkins.

Imogene and Pete lived in various places during their first years of marriage.  They finally settled in Fort Worth and then, Haltom City.  She survived Tuberculosis in the 1940s.  She was a homemaker and cafeteria worker in Birdville Schools.  In 1973, they retired and built their dream home in Decatur, Texas.

After her beloved Pete passed, she and fellow widower, W.D. Dub Rawle spent several years enjoying each other’s company.  They enjoyed several years of friendship before Dub passed in 2001.  Due to an injury, she lived her remaining years at Heritage House of Keller trying to rehabilitate.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Pete and her most precious son, Thomas Hilton, her siblings James, Earl, Lucille, Betty Jo and grandson Edward Watkins.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her grandchildren: Brigadier General (RET) Roger & Leslie Watkins of Spokane Washington; Walter & Dawn Watkins of Burleson; Anthony & Margaret Watkins Barron of Azle and Teresa Watkins of Fort Worth; and Whit Collier. As well her great-grandchildren Andrew Watkins, Brian Watkins, Catherine Watkins, Thomas Watkins, Emily Watkins Pomfret and Wyatt Barron and her daughter- in-law, Elisabeth Watkins.