Margaret Alice Watkins

Margaret Alice Watkins was born on Christmas Eve 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama to Waverly and Dorothy Watkins, roughly six hours after Captain Watkins sailed to fight in World War II. Margaret finally met her father when he returned nearly two years later.

Margaret grew up in and around Kerman, California until the family moved to Orange County in 1961. In high school she actively participated in speech and debate competitions and loved ballroom dancing. She did her undergraduate and graduate studies at California State University Fullerton achieving a master’s degree in Speech Pathology. Margaret taught from the elementary level up through community college in speech and communication. At a time when many would be planning retirement, she started an accent reduction business designed to serve non-native professionals, helping them master the sounds of English and the nuances of the American language and culture. She also worked in retail real estate, as a broker, with both her father and her brother, Barry.

Margaret was a devout Christian, active in her church and in serving the disadvantaged. She loved singing with the choir at Mariners Church and volunteering at Free Wheelchair Mission, Ryan’s Reach, Biola University and READ Orange County.

Margaret was a thoughtful, generous, and loving friend who had excellent penmanship and taste. If you were her friend or family, she gave you thoughtful gifts, well written notes and oftentimes, a nickname. She loved to read and work out crossword puzzles. She was a talented and engaging speaker.

She had a passion for her family and was always ready to share a fun and detailed story about one of her many nieces or nephews. She loved sharing her mom’s cookbook and the latest cooking and entertaining ideas. And she loved all things crafty and sparkly, so much so that her friends dubbed her the “Glitter Queen.”

Margaret is survived by her brother, Barry and his wife, Michele, and her beloved nieces and nephews: Jennifer Steele, Ryan Watkins, Cherisse Lockerd, Tyler Watkins and Travis Watkins as well as her great nieces and nephews: Jordan, Jake, Jason, Vivienne, Daniel, Sophia, Cheryl and very soon, baby Kade.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Watkins family.