Uncle Kenneth Watkins1922-2010Kenneth Snyder Watkins, our husband, father, brother, and friend quietly and peacefully passed away on March 15, 2010. Ken was born June 11, 1922 in Provo, Utah, son of Ira Oray and Ida Jane Snyder Watkins. He enjoyed growing up in Provo, graduating from Provo High School. He joined and served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific fleet aboard the USS Colahan. After his return from the service, he attended BYU. Ken married Fern Peterson on May 23, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, and then at Geneva Steel, retiring in 1984.
Uncle Ken refused to discuss his deployment in the World War, wanting to protect his family from the atrocities that come from conflict. Recently, he spoke more openly to his family. Others have exposed information that remains classified, regarding assignments from the war. Uncle Ken refused to discuss such matters and was very upset at the divulgence of information. Uncle Ken had made a promise not to divulge military info, showing his integrity through the years.
One story was shared about how Ken and his mother had a code between them which allowed Grandma to follow his locations. He would write her a letter, asking Grandma if she remembered old Neighbor Marshall and his 3 cows that live just south of their farm. This was code for approximately 300 miles south of the Marshall Islands. This was a tenderhearted story regarding the concern he had for his mother, knowing she was worried about him.
Another sweet story involved Grandma Watkins sending uncle Ken the church magazine each month. Uncle Ken would read each one thoroughly and then hide it away. One month as he went to hide the magazine, he found that they had been taken. He tried to discover who had taken the magazines but was not successful. Grandma continued to send the magazines and they continued to be taken from Uncle Ken's hiding place after he was finished with them. Finally, he began to simply leave the magazine on his bed to make it easier for whoever was taking them. He never found out who was taking them, but he hoped he was eventually baptized!
Family, friends, and neighbors delighted in Uncle Ken's gardening abilities. The children often took harvests to competitions and won many times. The neighbor thought Uncle Ken placed something in his soil which kept weeds out. But the neighbor noted that since Uncle Ken's ability to be mobile decreased, the weeds in the garden increased. There was no magic dirt; Uncle Ken just did what had to be done.
I also enjoyed a story told about how Uncle Ken would take left overs from the kitchen while serving on the ship. When he had enough ingredients, he would make donuts for the men. But when his supervisor found out, Ken had to discontinue the practice. He had made a batch of donuts and saw his superior coming toward him in the boiler room. Uncle Ken hid the plate behind some pipes; expecting the discussion. After many "Yes sirs!" and "No sirs!" Uncle Ken promised not to make more donuts. As his superior turned to leave, Uncle Ken reached behind the pipes and pulled out the plate; then offered his supervisor a donut from the final batch he would make. His superior indulged.
Uncle Ken was buried with full military honor today; including a twenty one volley salute. A bugler then played taps while we stood with our hands over our hearts. An American flag had been draped over his casket, and was humbly folded and then given to Aunt Fern. She was instructed to place the flag in a prominent position at holidays and family gatherings so her husband will always be remembered. This part of his funeral was the most touching to me; to see the military represented by the various uniforms, the lone rifle with a helmet atop of it, and the presenting of the flag. At a time when our country fails to maintain the standards identified by our Father, it is good to be able to say, "I knew him. He was part of the Greatest Generation."
I am grateful for our country's military and pray the Lord will bless families all over the world who are experiencing conflict and risk. I pray He will not turn away from us, as the United States, but will continue to bless our country with freedom and prosperity. What an amazing thing it is to review history through the eyes of our loved ones.
One story was shared about how Ken and his mother had a code between them which allowed Grandma to follow his locations. He would write her a letter, asking Grandma if she remembered old Neighbor Marshall and his 3 cows that live just south of their farm. This was code for approximately 300 miles south of the Marshall Islands. This was a tenderhearted story regarding the concern he had for his mother, knowing she was worried about him.
Another sweet story involved Grandma Watkins sending uncle Ken the church magazine each month. Uncle Ken would read each one thoroughly and then hide it away. One month as he went to hide the magazine, he found that they had been taken. He tried to discover who had taken the magazines but was not successful. Grandma continued to send the magazines and they continued to be taken from Uncle Ken's hiding place after he was finished with them. Finally, he began to simply leave the magazine on his bed to make it easier for whoever was taking them. He never found out who was taking them, but he hoped he was eventually baptized!
Family, friends, and neighbors delighted in Uncle Ken's gardening abilities. The children often took harvests to competitions and won many times. The neighbor thought Uncle Ken placed something in his soil which kept weeds out. But the neighbor noted that since Uncle Ken's ability to be mobile decreased, the weeds in the garden increased. There was no magic dirt; Uncle Ken just did what had to be done.
I also enjoyed a story told about how Uncle Ken would take left overs from the kitchen while serving on the ship. When he had enough ingredients, he would make donuts for the men. But when his supervisor found out, Ken had to discontinue the practice. He had made a batch of donuts and saw his superior coming toward him in the boiler room. Uncle Ken hid the plate behind some pipes; expecting the discussion. After many "Yes sirs!" and "No sirs!" Uncle Ken promised not to make more donuts. As his superior turned to leave, Uncle Ken reached behind the pipes and pulled out the plate; then offered his supervisor a donut from the final batch he would make. His superior indulged.
Uncle Ken was buried with full military honor today; including a twenty one volley salute. A bugler then played taps while we stood with our hands over our hearts. An American flag had been draped over his casket, and was humbly folded and then given to Aunt Fern. She was instructed to place the flag in a prominent position at holidays and family gatherings so her husband will always be remembered. This part of his funeral was the most touching to me; to see the military represented by the various uniforms, the lone rifle with a helmet atop of it, and the presenting of the flag. At a time when our country fails to maintain the standards identified by our Father, it is good to be able to say, "I knew him. He was part of the Greatest Generation."
I am grateful for our country's military and pray the Lord will bless families all over the world who are experiencing conflict and risk. I pray He will not turn away from us, as the United States, but will continue to bless our country with freedom and prosperity. What an amazing thing it is to review history through the eyes of our loved ones.
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