Obituary of Bennie Watkins

Funeral Services for Bennie Bob Watkins of Clarksville, MO, formerly of Elsberry, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Steven Bradshaw, pastor of Star Hope Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in New Hope Baptist Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandchildren along with Darrell Painter. Bennie, 87, was born on May 10, 1939 at Apex near Elsberry, the son of Royce Doan “Pete” and Violet Mae Hunter Watkins. He passed away early Thursday morning, July 16, 2026 at his home near Clarksville. Bennie was a 1957 graduate of Elsberry High School. He was united in marriage on May 14, 1960 to Carol Hartigan, the last wedding in the old Catholic Church on 4th Street in Elsberry. This union was blessed with three daughters: Lisa, Christina and Angie. Bennie started working for AT&T in 1961 and became an installer of the telephone plants in various cities and communities throughout the mid-west. After 35 years of service, Bennie retired in 1998. He was a member of the Communication Workers of America. Bennie and Carol traveled in their RV throughout the lower 48 states of America. They also enjoyed trips to Australia and Europe. Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Violet Watkins; four brothers; three sisters; and twin grandsons, Benjamin and Joseph Erbs who died in 1989. Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Carol Watkins of Clarksville; their three daughters: Lisa Erbs and her husband, Martin, of Wentzville, MO, Chris Watkins of Elsberry, and Angie Stone and her husband, Jeff, of Clarksville; six grandchildren: Caleb (Christina) Stone, Cody (Alec) Stone, Christopher (Alissa) Erbs, Michelle (Ryan) Erbs-Smithart, Cameron Stone and Collen Stone; two great-grandchildren: Archer Erbs and Kennedy Smithart, and two on the way, Baby Stone in September and Baby Erbs in December. Bennie also leaves one brother, Lonnie Watkins and his wife, Carol, of Chico, CA; and was loved by several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the Funeral Service on Monday, July 20, 2026 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.