Tim Lawrence Watkins

Ten days shy of his 50th wedding anniversary, Tim Lawrence Watkins, 73, of Sarasota died on November 2, 2016 at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Born in Denver, Colorado, he grew up enjoying train rides with his grandfather, visits to his aunt and uncle’s farm, and skiing. As a young man, he served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and later met his wife Victoria Watkins (née Fischer) at an April Fool’s Day dance in Quantico, Virginia. He pursued his college education under the GI Bill while working full time as a baggage handler for Allegheny Airlines. He graduated summa cum laude from Southeastern University in Washington, DC with a BS in Business Administration, later earning an MS in Business and Public Administration.

A diligent worker, Tim advanced his career in aviation through various positions in Washington, DC and several companies to include Aviation Sales Company in Miami, Florida. He ultimately served as CEO of Japan Fleet Services with branches in Singapore and Japan. He developed new financial products for the commercial aviation leasing business and was instrumental in introducing and expanding the exchange pool concept to the global commercial aviation industry. He had a love for numbers and a passion for fast Italian sports cars, aircraft, and their related parts. He was extremely handy. Perhaps owing to his mother’s career as a nurse, he had a particular interest and broad knowledge base in medicine. He said one of his proudest moments was having helped a woman deliver her baby in a foxhole in Vietnam.

At one time, Tim had race horses. Though he was very fond of all sorts of animals, he became fascinated with tigers while living in Southeast Asia, regularly visiting a tiger preserve in Thailand and also funding equipment to capture and relocate tigers which were in danger of hunting due to their proximity to villages and livestock. When he returned to the mainland United States to retire to a farm in Virginia, he and his wife collected a menagerie of creatures, most of which had nowhere else to go. He often said a broken snow shovel during a snowstorm in Virginia drove him to move to Florida early in his career. For the second time, the cold weather in Virginia made the couple relocate to Florida. They brought their farm animals with them. In addition to caring for them in Sarasota, Tim admired the wild creatures that inhabit the land he shared with his wife.

He was honored to have had the opportunity to meet Saint Teresa of Calcutta many years ago and was extremely patriotic. A Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, he had lifetime membership in The American Legion. Tim participated on various boards and committees, was a charitable fundraiser, and served as a church usher at times over the years. When he no longer had a dog of his own, he volunteered at the Sarasota County Animal Shelter as a dog walker. An avid world traveler, he enjoyed bringing his family with him to explore, one time voyaging with them to six continents within thirty days.

Tim was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Frances Watkins, and his sisters, Sharon Watkins and Janice Goodner. He is survived by his loving wife Victoria and his sister, Peggy (John) Benedict of Laramie, Wyoming. He leaves two devoted daughters Marianne (Roberto) Reyna of Newton, Massachusetts and Charlene Watkins of Mechanicsville, Virginia, and also five grandchildren, Roberto and Katarina Reyna and Lauren, Wyatt, and Chase Lamb.

At 10:00 am on Monday, November 14, 2016, a viewing will be held in the chapel of the Church of St. Patrick at 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow in the church hall. Interment will be at Sarasota National Cemetery. Until he was no longer able, Tim and his wife would attend funerals there for deceased veterans whose services were unable to be attended by their own families. In lieu of flowers, prayers for our nation and for all veterans are very welcome, or a memorial donation may be made to any charity.

Arrangements under the direction of Palms - Robarts Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Sarasota, FL.