Eldon J. (Bud) Watkins

Eldon J. (Bud) Watkins, 87, of C.R. 1000N, Syracuse, IN died at 1:11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at Goshen General Hospital in Goshen, IN. He was born on August 4, 1921 to John H. & Bernice (Smith) Watkins.

He was a lifetime Leesburg / Syracuse area resident and graduated in 1939 from Leesburg High School where he was very active in sports. He was married on July 17, 1953 in Syracuse, IN to Edith E. Franz who survives.

He was a dairy farmer most of his life. He quit milking in 1971 but continued raising heifers for other dairymen. He was also the former owner / operator of Wawasee Gravel Co. in Syracuse and had a sawdust business, hauling the sawdust to area dairymen for bedding.

He was a member of the North Webster Church of God and formerly attended the Zion Chapel United Brethren Church in Syracuse. He formerly served on the Kosciusko County Fair Board where he helped run the race track and was a supervisor on the Soil & Water Board for several years. He was currently still serving on the Kosciusko County Drainage Board.

Survivors include:
Wife - Edith Watkins of Syracuse;
1 Daughter - Mrs. Tony (Robyn) Tilson of Syracuse;
2 Grandsons - Jonathan (wife, Teresa) McCullough of Syracuse & Justin (wife, Claire) McCullough of Indianapolis;
Sister - Dorothy Dye of Leesburg

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters - Louise Clayton & Jeanette Beebe.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, IN. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the North Webster Church of God, 302 N. Main St, North Webster, IN with Pastor Jeff Boyer of the church officiating. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery in Syracuse, IN.

Memorial bequest may be given to the North Webster Church of God. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or church.