Watkins, Tilla (Rutherford) 1909-abt. 1967

WATKINS, RUTHERFORD, RASP, PRATHER, BIRCHARD, COURTNEY, COX

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/15/2005 at 07:07:47

Mrs. Tilla Watkins, 58, Dies Thursday; Rites Held Saturday

Mrs. Tilla Ida Watkins, 58, wife of Howard Watkins of Rte. 2, Grinnell, died Thursday afternoon at Grinnell General Hospital West. Mrs. Watkins had been in failing health the past seven years and had been hospitalized since Thanksgiving Day.

The daughter of George and Nona Rasp Rutherford, Mrs. Watkins was born near Newburg on Dec. 10, 1909, one of nine children. She attended the Newburg school, graduating from Newburg high school.

On Aug. 2, 1930, she was married to Howard Watkins at the home of the pastor of the First Friends church in Grinnell. To this union was born one son, Richard H. Watkins of Grinnell.

Mrs. Watkins had worked at the Glove Factory for a number of years and in recent years Mr. and Mrs. Watkins had farmed near Newburg.

Survivors include her husband and her son; one granddaughter, Tonya Dee Watkins; three step children - Robert Prather of the U. S. Army stationed in Germany, and Linda and David Prather of Grinnell; five brothers---Harry and Charlie Rutherford of Grinnell, Delbert Rutherford of Newton, Lester Rutherford of West Des Moines, and Verie Rutherford of Norco, Calif; and three sisters---Mrs. Warren (Stella) Birchard and Mrs. Nadine Courtney of Grinnell, and Mrs. Larry (Bernice) Cox of Swan, Iowa.

Mrs. Watkins was preceded in death by her father and her mother this past September.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tilla Watkins were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Leslie O. Warner, pastor of the First Friends church officiating.

Organist was Mrs. Donald J. Renaud and vocalists were Mr. and Mrs. Virgil E. Palmer, Pallbearers were Harold Courtney, Marvin Davis, Delmar Fleener, Delmar Howard, Gilbert Rutherford and Kenneth Rutherford.

Burial was in Hazelwood cemetery.