Ruth L Watkins

February 27, 1925 - April 26, 2019

Ruth L. Watkins, 94, formerly of Benton Harbor went to her heavenly home on Friday, April 26, 2019 at the West Woods of Niles in Niles. Services celebrating her life will be held at 11 AM on Thursday at the First Church of the Nazarene in St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery. The visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Township. Memorials may be made to the Activities Fund at West Woods of Niles. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. Ruth was born on Feb 27, 1925 in Alton, IL to Ernest and Vernice Fairbanks. She married her husband, Cameron Watkins, on May 2, 1953 and he preceded her in death on Nov 5, 2012. Together they celebrated 60 years of marriage. Ruth was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. She was a faithful and spiritual person who enjoyed reading the Bible and singing hymns. She also enjoyed embroidery and would embroider all most anything. Ruth was a kind, gentle, and loving mother and homemaker to her family. She also enjoyed helping other people almost every day. Her family includes her daughter, Janet (Michael) Freeman of Benton Harbor; her son, Richard (Erica) Watkins of Niles; her 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Johnson of Southfield, MI, Jessica (Derek) Thigpin of Milford, MI, Joshua (Danielle) Johnson of Murfreesboro, TN. and Christopher Watkins of Niles; her 7 great-grandchildren, Destiny, Kamryn, Denois, Eligah, Jayla, Joshua, and Sydney; her brother, Lester (Sue) Fairbanks of Watervliet, her sister, Esther Goldamer of Paw Paw and her nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her 2 sons, John and James.