Robert Terry Watkins

Terry grew up in Keene and graduated from Keene High School in 1966, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player. During his junior year, he met the love of his life, Barbara, beginning a partnership that would span 56 devoted years of marriage.

He went on to attend the University of New Hampshire, where he studied science and education, launching a lifelong career in teaching. Terry began teaching science after graduating, first in Salem, New Hampshire, before returning to his hometown to teach at Keene Middle School. For 30 years, he inspired generations of students and earned the deep respect and affection of colleagues.

Soon after beginning his teaching career, Terry and his wife, Barbara, settled in Harrisville, a small mill town outside of Keene. Deeply committed to his community, Terry coached pee wee baseball as well as middle school and junior varsity basketball. He also enjoyed playing men's summer league softball and proudly served as a member of the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department.

Terry retired from teaching at the age of 55 and he and Barbara built their dream home in Harrisville. There, he found joy in working his land, especially splitting wood on his property. Retirement, however, never slowed him down. A skilled house painter, Terry spent many years painting homes in the area as well as working on the restoration project of the Cheshire Mill. Those who knew him understood that Terry was never one to fully retire—he was always active, always busy, and always ready to lend a hand to a friend or neighbor in need.

However, Terry was not all about work. He enjoyed winters skiing at Sunapee Mountain with friends and summer days at Silver Lake. But most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his three granddaughters, be it playing cribbage, attending sporting events, or teaching them how to drive a pickup truck at the tender age of ten. Terry also cherished his time with his golden retrievers, Brady, Moby, and Brandy.

Terry is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Watkins; his son, Nathan Watkins, and his wife, Katherine, and their daughters, May and Lila, of Scituate, MA; his daughter, Rebecca Kelly, and her husband, Nicholas, and their daughter, Allison, of Dover, NH; his brother, Geary Watkins, and his wife, Nancy, of Keene; his sister, Karen Davis, and her husband, Glenn, of Surry; his brother, Leon Watkins, and his wife, Jill, of Surry; his brother, Donald Harding, of Virginia; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, coach, and friend, whose kindness, work ethic, and generosity left a lasting mark on all who knew him.

A service will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Terry’s name to Historic Harrisville, PO Box 79, Harrisville, NH 03450, or the Friends of the Harrisville Fire Service Inc., PO Box 116, Harrisville, NH 03450.