Bobby Joe Watkins

Bobby Joe Watkins, 87 of Whiting, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago. He was the beloved husband of 60 years to the late Florence M. (Gajeewski) Watkins, who passed away April 11, 2021; loving father of Mark Watkins; cherished grandfather of Noah, Nicholas and Sarah Watkins; adoring great grandpa of Noah, Jr. and Gabriella Watkins; dearest brother of Billy Fay Plummer and the late Jim (Carol) Watkins and Pat Keiser; dear brother-in-law of Edward (Susan) Gajewski and Susan (Anthony) Gajewski Vicari; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 10:30am at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting; a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:00am at St. Adalbert Church, Whiting, with the Rev. James Dvorscak, officiating; interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City; visitation at the funeral home on Wednesday morning from 9:00am to time of services. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on-line at www.baranfh.com

Bobby Joe Watkins was born on December 20, 1936 in Bokoshe, Oklahoma to Oscar and Maggie (Malone) Watkins and was a longtime resident of the Whiting-Robertsdale Community, He was a member of St. Adalbert Church, Whiting and was a US Army Veteran. He was a retiree of the LTV (Cleveland Cliffs) Steel Co., East Chicago, with a service of 38 years. Bobby Joe enjoyed life by working out, being a sports enthusiast, savoring his wife’s cooking and never missing his grandchildren’s sporting events. Devoted to his family, he will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Whiting Food Pantry, P.O. Box 591, Whiting, IN 46394, would be appreciated. 

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