Final Salute

Frederick Coplin Watkins
02/23/1946 – 01/21/2023
Frederick Coplin Watkins passed away at his home in Homedale, Idaho at the age of 76.
Fred was born 23 February 1946 in Brigham City, Utah to Ray Henry Watkins and Hope
Elaine Getz Watkins. He married his beloved wife Teanjai Watkins in l993 in Ventura,
California. They moved to Homedale, Idaho in 2020.
He spent his childhood in Drummond and Rexburg Idaho, attending schools in each. He
later earned degrees in construction and philosophy. He enlisted in the United States
Navy at the age of 18 years of age and honorably served his country for 21 years. He
served as part of an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) and later as a SeaBee
(Construction Battallion). He was Veteran of the Vietnam War. The people who served
with him often referred to him as “the ghost” because of his ability to evade and instill
fear in the enemy. After retiring from the Navy, he worked for a construction company
for a while and then started his own construction company. When the City of Oxnard,
California offered him a job as a plan checker and building inspector he accepted and
retired from the City of Oxnard after 30 years.
In his youth Fred enjoyed spending time swimming and floating on the river. His
swimming skills served him well in the Navy where he was able to swim for miles. While
serving in the Navy he was also recognized as a skilled boxer who was able to defeat
men much larger than him. He was an equally good marksman and loved to hunt. He
believed that after killing a deer or an elk it was important to show them respect by
eating their meat rather than letting it go to waste. He was also known for his green
thumb, an interest he shared with his father. He could grow anything from vegetables to
fruit trees. Fred was a good leader who was able to give sound advice and he liked to
help others. As a young man he often volunteered to mow lawns for widows in their
neighborhood. Later in life he often used his free time to assist people with passing
their building permit. He was enjoyed fixing and repairing things for his family and
friends. He even repaired an electric stove for his mother when he was a child. His
mother was very proud of him. He was very good at sharpening knives, a talent that will
be missed by many.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents and his son Don Coplin Watkins. His is
survived by his children William Watkins, Lavon Watkins, Latona Watkins, and Erick
Watkins and several grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Pam (Gordon)
Amidon, Tonya (Jerry) Olsen, and Constance (Ron) Hymas.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, on Friday,
February 24, 2023, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City.
A committal service with military honors will follow at 11:00 am, at the Idaho State
Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Rd. in Boise.
To attend the service virtually, please visit: https://www.bowmanfuneral.com/livestream/
Password: bowmanlive

Published by Bowman Funeral Parlor – Garden City on Jan. 31, 2023.