Obituary of Lew S. Watkins

Lew Watkins, 58, of Iowa City, died Sunday, November 10, 2013, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. A memorial fund has been established in Lew's memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web@www.gayandciha.com Lew was born October 21, 1955, at Buena Vista Hospital in Storm Lake, IA; the son of Dick and Marilyn (Wells) Watkins. He was baptized in the Methodist Church there. He moved to Hopkinton, IA, in 1956, and lived there until 1961. He attended Kindergarten there. He moved to Ft. Dodge, IA, in 1961, with his family. In 1968, they moved to Belmond, IA, where he was confirmed into the Methodist Church, and in 1973, he graduated from there. He was on a national bowling championship in Washington D.C, and he enjoyed playing tennis too. He was voted Homecoming Prince for his sophomore class. Lew went to Simpson College in Indianola for one year, and then began working at Wolverine, in Muscatine, and Louis Rich in West Liberty. He was a reliable worker. Lew married Rosa Salas June 24, 1984, at the United Methodist Church in Iowa City. This marriage later ended in divorce. Lew is survived by his daughter, Angela Marie Dodder (Ryan) of Denver, CO; his granddaughter, Dillan Rose Dodder; his sisters, Susan (Tim) Dirks of Marion, IA, and Katherine (Roger) Anderson of Washington, IA, as well as aunt and uncle, Jim and Betty Watkins of Sioux City, IA, his aunt Martha Merry of Charles City, IA, and his aunt Fern Watkins of Meadville, PA; He is also survived by two nephews, one niece and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and one uncle.