Andrew "Andy" Charles Watkins, Jr.

Andy was born October 19, 1944 in Charleston, South Carolina and passed January 24, 2018 after battling health issues related to Agent Orange exposure while in Viet Nam.

Funeral Services will be Saturday afternoon, February 3, 2018 at 2 o’clock in Parks Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Carolina Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of service Saturday at the funeral home.

He was born to Andrew Charles Watkins, Sr. and Dorothy Estelle Stelling-Watkins, both deceased, but raised by his mother and step-father, Joseph N. Barnett.

He is survived by his wife Dianne Watkins of Jacksonville, Florida where they resided. He leaves behind two sons, Andrew Craig of Greenville, SC and Aaron Charles of Jacksonville, Florida. There are three surviving sisters, Norma Jean Spangler, Libby McLeod and Pattie McKinney, all of South Carolina. Andy was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Charles Henry Watkins, and Dorothy Elizabeth Gatlin. Andy has three grandchildren, Kylea, Gemma and Ryland of Jacksonville, Florida. There are numerous nieces and nephews throughout South Carolina.

Andy attended Gordon H. Garrett High School and after graduation joined the United States Air Force May 10, 1963 where he excelled at the top of all his military endeavors. His active duty ended May 9, 1967, but after some time joined the Air Force reserves working in the capacity of civilian and Air Force reservist. While working in this role for 33 years, Andy received his Air Force retirement August 15, 1999.

His education included Trident Technical College in Charleston, where he studied metal fabrication supplementing F117 and C17 maintenance training. He was accepted into the NCO and Senior NCO Academies.  He achieved many successes while assigned to Charleston, Air Force Base Engine shop both as a civilian and USAF Senior Master Sargent. Andrew and his colleagues worked on some of the most sophisticated military transports. Golf, tennis and ping pong were Andy’s second love and he participated to perfection. 

Arrangements by Parks Funeral Home, 130 W. 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483. 

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