Betty Dobbs Watkins

Betty Diane Dobbs Watkins was born to Howard and Pansy Dobbs on December 9, 1939, in Longview, Texas and died peacefully in her sleep May 28, 2023. She graduated from Rockwall High School in 1957 along with her high school sweetheart Ted Ross Watkins, whom she married in 1959. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Home Economics Education from Texas Women's University in 1961, raising three boys didn’t give her enough to do so she stayed busy with crafting, gardening, and continuing education classes.

As the only child of two lifelong teachers, Betty dedicated her career to improving the lives of young children. After the family moved to Arlington, Texas in 1971, she began teaching the toddler's Sunday School class and went on to serve as Director for the church's new Mother's Day Out program. She also went back to TWU and earned her Master of Science degree in Child Development in 1978. That same year she started teaching Kindergarten for the Arlington Independent School District where she held various positions including Lead Prekindergarten Teacher and Prekindergarten Family Liaison. Using a Texas Instruments calculator to analyze her data and a Commodore home computer to type her dissertation, she was awarded a PhD. in Early Childhood Education from TWU in 1984. She retired in 2000 and was inducted into the Arlington ISD Wall of Fame the following year.

After her retirement Ted and Betty moved to Martindale, Texas, where she loved hosting family gatherings and preparing massive holiday feasts. They enjoyed traveling in the US and internationally. She loved the outdoors and became a Texas Master Naturalist. Always active in her community, Betty volunteered with church and local groups. Two of her favorites were the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sewing Guild and the San Marcos River Foundation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a favorite charity or one of the two just mentioned.

Betty's husband, Ted Ross Watkins, passed away in 2013. She is survived by their three sons, Evan Scott Watkins of Terlingua, Texas, Brett Dobbs Watkins and James David Watkins, her granddaughter Jessica Nicole Watkins Alexander all of Austin, Texas, her aunt Jane Dobbs Fieldcamp of Houston, Texas, her sister-in-law Nancy Lee Watkins of Terre Haute, Indiana, a nephew, four nieces and many cousins. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Thursday August 17, 2023 at the First Christian Church located at 3105 Ranch Road 12 in San Marcos, Texas. A burial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday August 19, 2023 at the Rest Haven located at 2500 SH 66 East in Rockwall, Texas.