Reverend Dr. Harold R. Watkins

The Rev. Dr. Harold R. Watkins died on Wednesday, December 2, 2015. He was born on July 30, 1928 in Wauseon, Ohio to Orra Lynn and Florence M (Bruner) Watkins. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn; his son, Mark Edwin Watkins (Kim) and daughter Nancy Jo Watkins; his siblings, Dr. Don O. Watkins (Barbara), Joan Domeck and Roger E. Watkins (Sue); three granddaughters, Alicia Jo Klingler, Stephanie R. Boyd and Morgan Olivia Watkins; four great grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, Sara Martin and Tony Lopez-Fajardo and two step-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Rachel. Hal graduated from Wauseon High School and was elected to the school’s distinguished Alumni/Legends of Education Academic Hall of Fame. He is a magna cum laude graduate (1950) of Bethany College, Bethany, W.Va. and served for 27 years on its board of trustees. He was named trustee emeritus in 2003 and was honored with the “Distinguished Alumni Award in Religion” by the college in 1975. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary (1953). During the 1996/1997 and 1998/1999 academic years he served on the LTS faculty and during the 2001/2002 academic year as its interim president. He holds honorary doctor of divinity degrees from Phillips University, Enid, Okla. and Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Ind. Hal has served as a pastor, denominational executive, seminary administrator and consultant to congregations and judicatories of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ. He began his full-time ministry serving congregations in Tucson, Ariz. And Tuscaloosa, Ala. He joined the Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ as a general representative in 1958. He was its president from January 1980 through March 1995 after serving in every ofﬁcer position of the organization. In 2004 he was named president emeritus. Hal was for 25 years on the board of trustees of the National City Christian Church Foundation, Washington D.C. the last ten years as its board chair. He is currently its board chair emeritus. In 2002 he was honored by that body with its distinguished “Diplomate” award. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF), Geneva, Switzerland; former board member and chairperson of Discipledata, Inc., an Indianapolis based electronic data processing/systems analysis organization; past president of Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA), an AIA affiliate; past moderator of the Denominational Investment and Loan Administrators (DILA); board member and past president of the World Convention of Churches of Christ; and former member of the board of directors of several administrative units of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Hal was granted the Elbert M. Conover Award by IFRAA (1989) for his contributions, as a non-architect, to religion, art and architecture. In 1994, he received the National Convocation’s “Liberation Award” in recognition of his 40 years of service and support to African-American congregations of the Christian Church through fostering empowerment and liberation to the marginalized and oppressed. At its 2005 annual convention, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico honored him for 35 years of contribution to the life and ministry of its congregations. Hal is the author of two books: “Continuity. Conservation, Cutting Edge” (2005) and “My Life and Times” (2011). He and his wife were honored in 2002 by the Christian Church Foundation, Indianapolis, with the prestigious “Harry T. Ice Distinguished Service Award” for outstanding personal philanthropy, commitment and leadership to the whole church; and, in 2010 they were honored by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, Tenn. through naming of its refurbished space the “Evelyn and Harold Watkins Reading Room.” Memorial services will be held at Geist Christian Church, 8550 Mud Creek Rd, Indianapolis on Wednesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. Calling will be on Tuesday, December 15 from 4:00-8:00 pm at the church. Inurnment will be in the Campbell Cemetery, Bethany, W.Va. at a time to be determined. Memorial gifts, in lieu of ﬂowers, may be made to Geist Christian Church, Disciples Church Extension Fund, Indianapolis or a charity of your choice.

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Reverend Dr. Harold R. Watkins

July 30, 1928 - December 2, 2015