Denver Albert Watkins, 86, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. He was born in Madill, Okla. the fifth of six children to Lelah and Albert Watkins on May 31st, 1935.
He was a 1953 Madill graduate and earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Denver received a master’s degree in Industrial Arts from California State University Long Beach. He served as a teacher in the Los Angeles County Unified School District for 37 years and received the Year of the Educator Medallion award from the LA County Board of Education in 1982. As a man of deep faith, Denver served God through many roles in the church, and was especially drawn to leading Adult Bible Study groups.
He was an extraordinary woodworker and had a gift for teaching middle-school children woodworking techniques while passing on the wisdom of how to succeed in the adult world.
He was preceded in death by brother Harold and sister JoEtta Kopzynski.
Denver is survived by his wife, Lou Watkins; sisters, June Rollins, Weta Thomas, and Marcia Jones; three daughters, Lisa Morgan, Susan Watkins, and Teri Watkins, as well as stepchildren, Megan Kubala, Erin Conklin, Alan Kelly, and Brian Kelly. He was a loving and gentle grandfather to 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A private burial service will be held at Kings Mountain Preserve, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Southminster Community Fund.