Richard G. Watkins, 83, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida.

Richard was born to Walter and Marjorie on January 21, 1940 in Rochester, NY where he lived until 1956 when he moved to Webster, NY.  He graduated from Webster High School in 1959 and graduated from Rochester Business Institute in 1960. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating with an Associate’s Degree. Richard married his wife, Barbara L. Denny, on January 27, 1962 in Webster, NY.  Richard and his family moved to Port Charlotte, Florida in 1981.   After a career in sales, he retired from Compressed Air Systems in Tampa, FL, as a District Sales Manager in 2009.  Richard was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend and will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara; his children, Kimberly A. Watkins, Richelle M. Howarth, Jeffrey R. Watkins (Angie); 18 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Marjorie A Paddock and step-father, Lewis M. Paddock; his brother, Robert K. Watkins and sisters, Joyce G. Pugh and Suzanne E. Gross.

A Visitation will be held at 10-11 AM followed by a funeral service at 11 AM on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Roberson Funeral Home Port Charlotte Chapel. Interment will be held at White Haven Memorial Park in Pittsford, NY at a later date.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in Richard G. Watkins name.  This charity is near and dear to Richard and his family as Richard has two grandsons, Ryan M. Yanus and Jaxon R. Watkins who are survivors of childhood cancer, “Retinoblastoma”.

Donations may be made to: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8267526&fr_id=154020&pg=personal

Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home Port Charlotte Chapel.