John, a native of Granville County was the son of the late John Stradley, Jr. and Hilda Shoaf Watkins.

John served his Country for four years in the United States Navy. He was a 1965 graduate of J.F. Webb High School and a 1970 graduate of Campbell University. He was retired from the North Carolina Department Employment Security Commission. He was an active member of Roanoke Baptist Church where he was a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

John is survived by his wife, Ginny Butler Watkins; their daughter Heather Watkins Wynne and her husband Kirk of Roanoke Rapids; their son Andrew Watkins of Raleigh; three grand children Jake and Abby Wynne and Julia Watkins; his sister Susan Watkins Jakubiec and her husband James of Wheaton, IL; two step sisters Caroline M. Smith of Birmingham, AL and Susan H. Mitchell of Raleigh; two step brothers Bill Mitchell of Oxford and Joe Mitchell of Manlius, NY and several nephews and nieces.

Funeral Service for John will be held Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Roanoke Baptist Church with Rev. Rick Rogers and Rev. Dave Wood officiating. Interment will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids with Military honors.  

Visitation will be at Roanoke Baptist Church Thursday, November 7, from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, 4 N. Blount Street, 2nd Floor, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Arrangements are being handled by Askew Funeral and Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.askewfs.com