Arthur "Art" W. Watkins Jr.

Arthur "Art" W. Watkins, Jr. of Raleigh, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016 with his family close by his side. Art was born in Raleigh on February 13, 1945, raised in Boylan Heights, and preceded in death by his mother, Grace Faircloth Watkins, and his father, Arthur Wade Watkins, Sr.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Elaine "Laine" Thomas Watkins and two sons, Arthur "Tres" W. Watkins, III and Jonathan "Jon" Thomas Watkins. Art is also survived by his brother, William "Bill" W. Watkins, and close cousins Sue Thompson and Bob Watkins.

Art was a member of North Raleigh United Methodist Church, the Jaycees, the Raleigh Sports Club, and the North Carolina Film Council. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Art was an avid Tar Heels fan who spent his retirement pursuing the interests of a hobbyist farmer. Prior to retirement, in his real life, he was a TV news producer in Richmond and Washington, DC, a banker with Southern National Bank, and president of Tradewinds Coffee Company.

The Watkins family will host a remembrance this Saturday, May 7, between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at the Watkins family farm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to the Kidney Foundation.

Condolences may be sent through: brownwynne.com