Helen T. Watkins

Helen Teresa (Bauer) Watkins of Bowie, MD, wife of the late John T. Watkins, Sr. died peacefully on Friday, August 17, 2018 after a brief illness. She is survived by her children John (Margaret), James (Somaya), Susan (Leiss), Stephen (MaryAnn), Francis (Lynne), and Timothy (Susan), 15 grandchildren, Thomas, John, James, Katie, Matthew, Patrick, Marissa, Sarah, Alayna, Heather Anne, Megan, Timothy Jr., Stephen, Jr., Sean, and Brian and 13 great grandchildren Micah, Landon, Emma, Andrew, Abigail, Sullivan, Olivia, Elizabeth, Bradley, Benjamin, William, Vincent, and Kaiden, with a great grandchild (Hattie) and a  great-great grandchild on the way. They were all, each one, her favorite. 

Born in New York City on July 18, 1925, the second oldest of six girls and one son of Fred and Helen Bauer.   Growing up in New York and on Long Island with sisters Lillian, Eleanor and the late Dorothy, Patricia, Mary and brother Fred, she loved the beach and spent as much time there as possible. She graduated from St. Michael’s Academy in New York City.  

On April 1, 1944 she married Ensign John T. Watkins and they traveled immediately to California while Ensign Watkins completed his Navy service.  They returned to New York state living in Elmira for a few years then Valley Falls until 1964.  After one year in Waterford, Connecticut they moved to Bowie, Maryland. 

Between raising her children and working at the Bowie Library Helen amassed an extensive portfolio of popular crafts projects.  An avid knitter, sewer, ceramic artist, and quilter she found time to master many other crafts. An active, faith filled member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bowie she filled her free time playing mahjong, dominoes, and card games.

From an early age Helen found herself constantly active but she always had time for her husband, her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.  Just being with them was her greatest joy. 

Her husband passed away in 2004, she moved to Riderwood Retirement Community in Calverton, Maryland, August 2007, where she continued to master her gaming skills and made many more friends. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

The family asks that, in lieu to flowers, donations be made to Fighting for Kaiden Foundation, Inc., PO BOX 386, Linthicum, MD 21090  (www.fightingforkaiden.org) or Itineris of Baltimore, 2050 Rockrose Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211 (www.itinerisbaltimore.org).