JOHN ROBERT WATKINS
John Robert Watkins of Price, Utah passed away shortly after midnight on February 21, 2023. John was born on January 6, 1942, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to John and Ruth Watkins. It was in the woods surrounding the family farm that his love for hunting, fishing, nature and the outdoors began. He graduated from South Williamsport Area High School in 1960, where he wrestled, played football, and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts. John obtained his Bachelor of Science in Education from Lock Haven State College in 1964, where his wrestling career continued and flourished, wrestling alongside Olympians and some of the world's best.
John began his teaching career at South Williamsport High School, before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965 where he taught at Bridger Junior High School and Von Toble Junior High
School while obtaining his Master of Science in Education from Northern Arizona University in 1968. He then accepted a position as a science teacher at Western High School, where he remained for 25 years, teaching biology and zoology, among other subjects, all while coaching middle and high school wrestling, gymnastics, and teaching night school. John was recognized as the district Teacher of the Year in 1990. Loved by his students and wrestlers, he became a father figure to many. He competed with his teams, including coaching his two sons, across the country, officiated nationally, and was one of Nevada's ambassadors for the sport of wrestling. He was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011 for his lifetime of service to the sport.
John spent his free time in his early teaching years as a deputy sheriff of North Las Vegas (1969-72), became a licensed realtor, and worked in custom home construction. In 1976, he married Susan Watkins (divorced), they had two sons, Douglas and Justin, whom they raised in the home he built on the horse properties adjacent to Gilcrease Ranch, outside of Las Vegas. John spent countless hours teaching and tutoring his boys as they traveled the country hunting, fishing, wrestling, camping, and sight-seeing. He loved spending time with his mom, dad, brother, sister, nieces and nephews during the holidays and the summers at his brother's cabin in Swains Creek, Utah, usually playing cards and eating homemade ice cream. John also loved singing in the Disciples of Christ Church choir during weekend services.
After retiring from the Clark County School District in 1993, John continued to advocate for educators as Uniserv Director for Nevada State Education Association, where he worked for 10 years in Las Vegas and throughout rural Nevada; relocating to Elko, Nevada for several years. It is in this work that John met his wife, Christine Facer Watkins.
In 2000, John married Christine and received her children, Rjay, Rory, Danny, Matt, and Summer, and her grandchildren as his own. He moved to Price, Utah, taught at Carbon High School, and coached wrestling there for several years. His passions were tending to his garden, canning fruits and vegetables, donating food, volunteering for the NRA, managing Christine's political campaigns, hunting, fishing, and traveling with his children and grandchildren, who affectionately referred to him as "Pop".
John is survived by his wife, Christine, and her children and grandchildren; his ex-wife, Susan, and their sons, Douglas (Andrea) and Justin (Marni); his grandchildren, Adyson, Grayson, and Sydney; his brother James (Valerie); his sister, Sue Ellen (Larry). John was preceded in death by his father John (1989) and his mother Ruth (2013).