Donald P. “Don” Watkins

Donald Printest “Don” Watkins, 71, of St. Peters, Missouri, died of metastatic prostate cancer at his home on June 11, 2016. He was born on Oct. 1, 1944, in Warren, Arkansas, to Joel Smith and Eva (Byers) Watkins. Don grew up in Warren and graduated from Warren High School in 1962. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1966.
Don taught high school science for eight years in Missouri and Arkansas. He married Carol Anne (Farley) Rhine on July 21, 1968 in Monett, Missouri. Don and Carol and their family lived in Alexandria, Virginia; Stuttgart, Arkansas; Monett, Missouri; Monticello, Arkansas; El Paso, Texas; and St. Peters. Don worked for the United States Army as an aerospace engineer from 1981 to 1997 in St. Louis and from 1997 to 2010 in Huntsville, Alabama. He worked on developing the Army’s night vision technology for use on Army helicopters. He was a past-member of the Missouri Choral Society and a member of First Baptist Church of St. Charles.
Don was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Joel Smith Watkins, Jr., who died Feb. 23, 2016; and a step-grandson, John Silver. Don is survived by his daughter, Amy Watkins, St. Peters; his son, Justin Watkins, St. Peters; and four stepchildren, Cynthia “Cindy” Haltom and husband Leslie, Arlington, Texas; Kevin Rhine and wife Sandy, Burkburnett, Texas; Candace “Candy” Silver, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts; David Rhine and wife Pam, Pompano Beach, Florida; seven step-grandchildren, Cathryn McCallum, Rachel Fitzhugh, Aaron and Ian Haltom, Nicole Knoblauch, Kristina Bingaman, and Susan Whitehead; six step-great-grandchildren; and two nieces, Catherine Barker of Pittsboro, North Carolina, and Victoria Pinkston of Aberdeen, North Carolina.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home, 837 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376. A Graveside Service will be conducted at 11:00 am Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the Mt. Herman Cemetery, near Sedalia, Missouri, by Newcomer Funeral Home.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Answers in Genesis or HOINA (Homes of the Indian Nation) c/o Newcomer Funeral Home, 837 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters MO 63376.


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