Spencer Watkins III

Spencer Watkins was the youngest of three children. He was preceded in death by his sister Greta Ann Watkins; his brother Alfred Dean Watkin; his father, Spencer, Jr and his mother Pattie. He. was born on October 8, 1941 in Bluefield, West Virginia. His father like the majority of the African American men in the small town of Bluefield worked in the coal mining industry and his mother worked in a small dress shop to help facilitate the family income.

Being the youngest child in the family, Spencer grew up to be an outstanding athlete. His dream was to go to college so he would not have to face a life of working in the coal mine. While in high school, he excelled in the game of basketball. Due to their expertise of the game, Park Central was a formidable team to defeat. He entered West Virginia State College in 1959 where he majored in Physical Education. After he graduated, he took a job selling encyclopedias in Detroit, Michigan. Needless to say, this was not what he had in mind for a career. In 1964 Spencer took a job as a Physical Director with the YMCA in Pittsburgh, PA. There he excelled as an administrator and a coach for young men from the nearby housing project. After two years, he transferred to Knoxville Junior High School. He worked there until an opening at Schenley High School became available as a PE instructor and head basketball coach--this was his dream come true. While coaching at Schenley, his basketball team won the state championship twice. This made him somewhat of a celebrity with tv interviews.

After three or four years in which his team always were a part of the state championship game, Spencer was recruited to become the basketball coach and Dean of the Physical Education department at San Bernardino Valley College. He retired from that position in 2006 and proceeded to do what he loved best—playing golf.

He was a member at St. John’s Episcopal Church until one Sunday when I asked him when he was going to join TCFC. He immediately got up and went forward to become a member. He loved our church and was truly excited when he became a deacon and was able to baptize our oldest grandchild, Christian.

Spencer and I have been married for 55 years. God blessed us with three lovely daughters, Donna Lynn, Karen Marie (husband) Jerry Henry, Kathy Anne (husband) Ricky McClure; five grandsons and one granddaughter (Christian Emanuel) (Justin Michael) (Tanner Spencer) (Riley McKenna) (Lincoln Parker) and (Miller Peyton).