Elmer Ray Watkins

ARLINGTON -- Elmer Ray "Dusty" Watkins, 87, passed away Monday, July 9, 2012, in Arlington. Funeral: 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, 210 W. Park Row Drive, Arlington, with Pastor Kevin Hintze officiating. Interment: With full honors at 1:15 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Lane B. Visitation: The family will receive friends 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 877-832-6997, woundedwarriorproject.org. Dusty was born April 20, 1925, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Ray Edward Watkins and Minnie Rosalee Davis Watkins. He graduated from Capitol High School in Oklahoma City and then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war he attended the University of Oklahoma on the GI Bill, where he played football for legendary coach Bud Wilkinson. In 1950, Dusty joined the U.S. Air Force where he served for 22 years until his retirement in 1972 as a lieutenant colonel. He was a pilot and later base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo. During his years in service, he served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In Abilene he owned Watkins Service Kubota Distributorship, Jhirmack Beauty Products Distributorship and a beauty school. An Arlington resident since 1975, he was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Dusty was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; two sisters; and his first wife and the mother of his son, Janus Spurr Watkins. Survivors: Wife, Eileen Copas Watkins of Arlington; son, Robert Randolph "Randy" Watkins of Arlington; sister, Dorothy Rice and husband, W.A. "Dub," of Nicoma Park, Okla.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and two sisters-in-law. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233 View and sign guestbook at www.star-telegram.com/obituaries