Port Charlotte, FL: Passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Florida.

     Richard was born to Walter and Marjorie on January 21, 1940 in Rochester, NY where he lived until 1956, when he moved to Webster, NY. He graduated from Webster High School in 1959 and graduated from Rochester Business Institute in 1960. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating with an associate degree. Richard married Barbara L. Denny on January 27, 1962, in Webster, NY, and went onto a career with Star Markets in Rochester, NY from which he retired  in 1980 as Store Manager. In 1981 he moved his family to Port Charlotte, Florida, and while living there, he went on to work for Legris Inc, Rochester, NY, as District Sales Manager, Southeast Region, until 1990, ultimately retiring from Compressed Air Systems of Tampa, FL, as District Sales Manager in 2009. 

    A wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Richard will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

    Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara; children, Kimberly A. Watkins, Richelle M. Howarth, Jeffrey R. Watkins (Angie); 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Marjorie A. Paddock, step-father, Lewis M. Paddock; brother, Robert K. Watkins; sisters, Joyce G. Pugh and Suzanne E. Gross.

    Friends may call 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Friday, January 12 at Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, 12 South Ave., Webster, followed by a brief graveside prayer service and interment at White Haven Memorial Park, Pittsford. A Celebration of Life following the burial will be held at VFW Post 8495, 300 Macedon Center Road (31f), Fairport, NY 14450.

    In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8267526&fr_id=154020&pg=personal in Richard G. Watkins name. This charity is near and dear to Richard and his family as Richard has two grandsons, Ryan M. Yanus and Jaxon R. Watkins who are survivors of childhood cancer, “Retinoblastoma”