POMONA, William Eli Watkins, 64, of Pomona, passed away at 5:03 A.M. Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale in Carbondale, IL. He was born November 12, 1945 in Carbondale, Illinois the son of Paul D. Watkins and Dessie (Gregory) Watkins. William married Jacqueline Reeves on April 13, 2006 in Murphysboro, IL. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline Watkins of Pomona, IL; children: Elizabeth Marie Watkins Skinner and her husband James F. Skinner of Arcola, IL; William E. Watkins IV and his wife Stephanie Watkins of Herrin, IL; four step children: Jason Daniel Groff of Murphysboro, IL, Robert E. Groff III of Idaho, Christopher Groff of Murphysboro, IL, and Bryan Sullivan of Pomona, IL; three grandchildren: Timothy Allen Watkins of Arcola, IL, Kylie Watkins of Herrin, IL and Eli Watkins of Herrin, IL; two step grandchildren: Joseph Groff and Adyen Groff; one brother: Kenneth Watkins of Ft. Meyers, FL; sisters: Edna Rose Mann of Loani, IL, Karen Winters of Marion, IL, and Tina Barclay of Herrin, IL, Step brother: Chester John Viernum of Cobdon. He is preceded in death by his parents and step father Chester Viernum; one brother, Paul D. Watkins II, one sister, Margaret Ann. Mr. Watkins served in the U.S. Air Force, during the Vietnam Conflict. He is a member of the Paul Stout American Legion Post #127, Murphysboro, IL, he was an avid hunter and fisherman, former boy scout leader and a loving and caring person. Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava. Rev. Paul Etherton will be officiating. Bills wished were to be cremated. Visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava on Sunday from 1 to 3pm. Memorials may be made to Kidney Foundation.