William "Bill" Watkins, 78, of Harrison, passed on December 2, 2014. A graduate of Central High School. Bill attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville and University of California, Fresno. Bill was a baseball pitcher at Central, signed with the Chattanooga Lookouts and played in the minor league in Kentucky.

His career included working at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; working for NASA in the space program and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Pasadena, California. While in California, Bill had his own business, Watkins Intermodal.

Bill returned to Chattanooga and was active in the Tennessee Organ Donors Program and a political activist in the TEA Party. He enjoyed writing many opinion pieces for the Times-Free Press. He always had a smile for everyone and enjoyed people of all kinds.

Predeceasing him were his parents, John and Ione Watkins; brothers, Jimmy and David and son, Russell.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sue Walls; stepson, Brian Baubach; stepgrandson, Cameron Baubach; daughter, Susan, grandchildren, Heather Nolan, Daniel Munson a great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday at 3 p.m. in Bayside Baptist Church.

The Rev. Grady Cooper will conduct a celebration of his life at 4 p.m. in the church.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Bayside Baptist Church building program, 6100 State Highway 58, Harrison, TN 37341.

Bayside Baptist Church Building Program 6100 State Highway 58, Harrison TN 37341 Tel: 1-423-344-8327 Web: http://www.baysidebaptist.org/

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