Julius Albert Watkins was born on September 17, 1935, in St Maries, Idaho, to Alies Bond POOLE, age 21, and Thomas Riley Watkins, age 22.
He was 9 years and 3 days old when his Father married his Stepmother on September 20, 1944. 
Bert became pen pals with Ileia Kirkland Meek while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. The couple fell in love while Bert was home on leave; they married April 20 1959. He became a step-father to Ruth and Lorrie Meek, he and Ileia later welcomed two additional daughters, Merry and Jean Gay.
The Watkins family moved around in their early days, notably residing in St. Maries, ID, and the Benewah Valley before buying 160 acres near Plummer, ID, on the Agency Road. This is where Bert and Ileia proudly ran a small cattle ranch.
Bert was injured in 1996 in a logging accident that left him a paraplegic. The couple retired to their ranch, for the next six years, before he was eventually hospitalized in Coeur d’ Alene due to Bert’s failing health. Bert passed away at the LaCrosse Health & Rehabilitation Center in Coeur d’Alene, ID on January 5, 2002.

JULIUS ALBERT WATKINS

Service

KOREA

US NAVY,

EOCN

Resting Place

WOODLAWN CEMETERY

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us