Obituary of Ralph Watkins

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at Springfield Memorial Gardens for Ralph H. Watkins of Springfield, who died Nov. 20 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 87.He was born Sept. 29, 1924, in Cleveland, Tenn., to Noah and Anna Washburn Watkins. He married Mildred Bilbrey on Dec. 21, 1944, in Dalton, Ga. She died June 21, 2011.He was a career Marine, serving in the Marine Corps for 30 years and retiring with the rank of master sergeant in 1963. He worked in the U.S. Civil Service for 10 years following his military service.Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Hibbetts of Springfield; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His son, Carl Bruce Watkins, died in 1980.Arrangements by Springfield Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.Remembrances may be sent to Eugene Christian School.