MARK WATKINS

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bethel Church in Lamar, Mo., for Mark Thomas Watkins, 61, Indianapolis, formerly of Joplin, Mo., who died Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Bethel Church is located on Hwy. 126, between Hwy. 43 and Hwy. I49/71.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Rehabilitation Ministries in Joplin, Mo., Bethel Church in Lamar, Mo. or Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Betty A. (Burton) Watkins; daughters, Heather Watkins, Stacy Wanyoike and husband Joel and Bethany Watkins; grandchildren, Zoey and Izaiah Wanyoike; his parents, Ralph and Edna Watkins and his siblings, Joyce Sowers and husband Rick, Jeff Watkins and Nancy Van Velse and husband Reggie.

Mr. Watkins was born March 8, 1957, in Indianapolis, to Ralph and Edna (Johnson) Watkins. He was a 1975 graduate of Greenfield (Mo.) High School and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Theology degree from Ozark Bible College in Joplin. While in Joplin he was involved with American Rehabilitation Ministries and ministered with Bethel Church near Lamar. Upon leaving Missouri in 1989, he returned to Indiana to minister at Agape Christian Church. He was also the director of Christian Mission for the Blind; then for a time he was on staff at Outlook Christian Church and also served as a chaplain with Hancock Regional Health in Greenfield, Ind.

Aside from his family, his greatest joy in life was leading others to Christ and he demonstrated this through his personal ministry and his active membership with Outlook Christian Church. He also enjoyed the beauty in God’s green earth; spending time outdoors hunting, fishing and camping with his family. He was also a big fan of NASCAR.