Ralph E. Watkins

January 22, 1924 — May 26, 2008

Obituary of Ralph E. Watkins

Ralph E. Watkins 84, passed away Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, at St. John's Hospital, Detroit, MI. Ralph was born on January 22, 1924 the youngest son of Waldo and Ruth (Wymore) Watkins. He graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1942 and received his BA degree from Detroit Institute of Technology. He served in the US Navy 1942-1946 on a Destroyer in the South Pacific and upon his discharge he joined his father in a Mortgage Brokerage/Insurance business. Ralph retired in 1989 as the Executive Vice President and Director of Colonial Central Savings Bank. Ralph was active in sailing and was a past Commodore of Crescent Sail Yacht Club and member of Circle Yacht Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was also a life member of the Detroit Executive Association and the Saving and Loan Institute and a member of the Grosse Pointe Senior Men's Club. He is predeceased by his daughter Nancy Schmelz and his youngest son Ralph Jr. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jeanette Kerr Watkins and his son Dale (Sandra) Watkins plus four grandsons: Scott (Adrianne) Watkins of Haslett MI., Brian Watkins of Chicago, IL, Dr. Peter (Julian) Schmelz of St. Louis, MO and Mark (Lori) Schmelz of Mechanicsburg, PA. He is also survived by his great granddaughter, Elia Schmelz. A service of remembrance and celebration of his life will be held at The Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms on Friday, June 6th at 10:30 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Children's Hospital or St. John's Hospice. Please share a memory of Ralph in his guestbook.

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