Horace Knight Watkins

Hartland, VT – Horace Knight Watkins, 85, died Tuesday April 10, 2018 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Jct., VT surrounded by his family.

He was born April 6, 1933 in West Farmington, OH a son of George Washington Watkins and Priscilla W.M. (Smith) Watkins.  Horace grew up on a farm in Chester and later moved to Springfield, VT, attending school in both towns.  He served in the US Army during the Korean War and was married to Jane Walsh September 3, 1955 and together they raised a family in Vermont and Connecticut. The family moved as Horace found work in the machine tool industry including at Pratt & Whitney, MAL Tool, Purdy Corp and Raytheon before settling for good in Hartland in the early 1970's when he began at NETAM Corp which became North Hartland Tool.  Horace retired in 2000.

He enjoyed spending time working in his yard and gardens, and also belonged to various horseshoe, bowling, square dancing  and golf leagues in the area as well as the Hartford Elks, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars in White River Jct.  Horace was also an avid card player.

He was predeceased by his wife, Jane, in 2003; two sisters Isabelle Graham and Dorothy Gammon and six brothers John, Jesse, George, Arthur, Ken and David Watkins.

He leaves a daughter Kimberly LaBarge and her husband Craig of Wilder, VT; sons Robert Watkins and his wife Robin of Hartland, Edmund Watkins and his wife Jayne of Wilder and Aaron Watkins and his wife Sheila of Hartland; grandchildren Tamara, Melissa, Stephanie, Tyler, Kyle, Christopher, Craig, Corey, Justin and Audriana; 11 great grandchildren and two brothers William and John Watkins both of Springfield, VT.

A visitation will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT on Saturday April 21, 2018 from 4-6PM.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, PO Box 702
Brownsville, VT 05037