Fred, age 87 of Hoover, AL, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 25, 2015. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force, member of the NRA, Steel City Sport Shooting Association, and Lakeside Baptist Church. Fred was the President of the 1947 graduating class of Jones Valley High School where he played football and baseball; over the years he continued to organize and assist with the yearly class reunions. He then went on to play semi pro baseball and attended UAB in their early forming years when classes were held at Phillips High School. Fred enjoyed flying RC Airplanes in the fields of North Birmingham and cheering for the Atlanta Braves Baseball. He retired from Southern Natural Gas after 38 years of service. Fred is preceded in death by his son, Donald Frederick Watkins, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Jan H. Watkins; daughters, Donna Stevens, Debra Bockman (Jim), Dale Stackable (Brian); son, John Hereford; grandchildren, Joshua, Samuel, and Christopher Jones, April W. Herring, Donald Frederick Watkins III, Amy Park, Amber Bockman, Channing and Whitney Smith, Natasha Rizo Hereford; and seven great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Elmwood Chapel on Monday, September 28th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm with services beginning at 2:00 pm. Fred is loved and will live on in the hearts of his family and many friends forever.
