WATKINS, Melvin 1914-1931

WATKINS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/1/2015 at 20:19:12

Melvin Watkins Dead

Melvin Watkins, 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Watkins, died at the hospital at Woodward, Iowa, last Thursday. Funeral services were held at the home of his parents last Saturday. Rev. R. B. Fisher was the officiating pastor. Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Obituary
(By Rev. R. B. Fisher)

Melvin Forrest Watkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Watkins, was born December 29th, 1914. At seven months of age he took an exceedingly severe spell of whooping cough and this left him an invalid without any chance at all of ever being a normal person. His parents did everything humanly possible. They took him to Iowa City for treatment before he was much past two years of age and then to Rochester, Minn., when he was about three and one-half years of age. About one year ago he was taken to the hospital at Woodward, Iowa. There he remained until death released him from his bodily afflictions and pains. Melvin grew until he probably would have been almost the normal height of boys his age but he was entirely dependent upon his loved ones for all his care and keeping.

He leaves besides his parents to mourn his departure, one brother, Lawrence, and three sisters, Eileen, Harriet and Doris. The elder brother and the oldest child of the family was called away May 18th of this year, hence the angel of death has visited this home twice within five months.

This world is a sad place for life at its best. So when one has not been fortunate with health and normal powers, the trials are tragic indeed. But for the Christian this world is not all. The life beyond gives promise to all who believe and are subject to the Divine will, and there can be no doubting God's care for those who cannot be held responsible because of misfortunes not able to be avoided in any wise whatsoever.

Text for sermon: II Sam. 12:23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fust? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 October 1931, pg 12