John Randal Watkins, 74 of Benton Harbor passed away peacefully Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville with family by his side after a battle with cancer.

Services celebrating Randal's life will be held 1:00 pm Friday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma where visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 pm.  Burial with Military Rites will follow in Lakeshore Hagar Cemetery in Hagar Township.  Donations in Randal's memory may be made to Hospice at Home.  Those wishing to leave an online message of comfort for the family may do so by selecting the link on the left.

Randal was born August 7, 1942 in Lexington, Tenn. to Ray and Ollie (Scates) Watkins.  He served in the Army during the Vietnam Era and retired as a plant operator from Consumers Asphalt after 30 years of service. Randal enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing karaoke, doing pit style BBQ's, and traveling along with spending many winters in Texas.  He was also a member of the Benton Harbor Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his son John Watkins, Jr. of Benton Harbor and his daughter Ronda Watkins of Coloma.  Also surviving are two brothers Rex (Sophia) Watkins of Coloma, James Watkins of Sanford, Fla.; his sister Carol Baker of St. Joseph, a granddaughter Sasha (Juan Carlos) Bermudez, and two great grandchildren, Claudya and Alejandro Danny Bermudez.

In addition to his parents, Randal was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 2009 whom he married September 18, 1960; two brothers Ray and Jerry Watkins, and three sisters, Martha Hennessee, Ruemelle Frederick, and Jewell Watkins.