Eugene Dale Watkins

Eugene "Gene" Dale Watkins, age 84, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at his home in Newton, Kansas.

Born in Carmen, Oklahoma on October 5, 1941, to Arthur and Leatha (Taylor) Watkins, Gene was the eldest of three children, with sisters, Lynda and Diana, rounding out the Watkins family of five.

The Watkins family moved to Enid, Oklahoma, and then to Wichita, Kansas, settling in the Haysville/Derby area where Gene attended Derby High School. Gene was active in the High School Newspaper doing illustrations, as he had an immense talent for drawing, and dabbled in baseball, as well.

Post high school, Gene and a buddy decided to “drag Douglas” one night after work, and that is when Gene met the love of his life, Kathryn "Kathy" Gardner.

A short 6 months later, Gene and Kathy married on November 2, 1962, and the same year he started his career with KG&E as an Estimator in Wichita. Four years later in 1966, KG&E brought Gene and Kathy to Newton, Kansas, where they settled permanently.

Gene and Kathy were blessed with their first child, Curtis Eugene, in 1968, their second child, a daughter, Kimberly Sue, in 1970 and their youngest, Ronald Dale, in 1971.

Throughout the years raising their children, Gene was active in the Jaycee’s, Zion Lutheran Church, renovating rental houses, collecting antique cars, and carting kids to sporting events, often using the CB radio to communicate with Kathy on how the teams were doing.

Gene and Kathy made several friends but among their best friends, with whom they spent weekends camping, riding motorcycles, water skiing and vacationing with, were Dean and Sharon Gasaway, and Bob and Judy Hurlbutt.

Gene eventually retired from KG&E in 1999 and quickly picked up golfing and furniture restoration to fill his time, until his seven grandchildren replaced those activities. He was extremely proud of all his grandchildren and loved to share his praise on their social media accounts, his newest hobby.

Gene and Kathy very rarely spent a day apart and most recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. One of the most repeated sentiments shared by so many is “you never saw one without the other.”

Gene is survived by his wife, Kathryn, of the home; son, Curt of Denton, Texas; daughter, Kim (Joel) Benninghoff of Rogers, Arkansas; and son, Ron Watkins of Newton, Kansas; grandchildren, Josh Diringer of Newton, Kansas, Jake (Caitlin) Benninghoff of Fort Worth, Texas, Drew Benninghoff of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Hallie Watkins of Pittsburgh, Kansas, Kathryn “Kate” Benninghoff of Lawrence, Kansas, and Gehrig Watkins of Newton, Kansas; sister, Diana (Bob) Hopper of Franktown, Colorado; sister in law, Madeline Gardner Johnson of Renton, Washington.

Gene is now reunited with his parents, Arthur and Leatha; sister, Lynda; granddaughter, Maddie Dale Watkins; and many friends who preceded Gene in death.

Friends may pay respects at a visitation on Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Petersen Funeral Home. A graveside service for Gene will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas.