William Wardlaw Watkins

William “Bill” Wardlaw Watkins, 87, of Nacogdoches, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Bill was born on December 18, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Muriel Vincent Watkins and Henry Edward Watkins, Jr.  He attended the University of Virginia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1961.  After graduation Bill completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and became a commissioned Naval Officer.  While at UVA, Bill met Ruth Mara Smits on a blind date. They married on June 9, 1962.

After marrying, Bill and Ruth immediately moved to the Philippine Islands where Bill served as the Communications Officer for the U.S. Naval Base at Subic Bay.  They enjoyed traveling throughout Asia during Bill’s years in the Navy.

After his naval career, Bill attended the Boston University School of Law.  Upon graduation, Bill and Ruth moved to New York City, where Bill spent one year clerking for a Federal Judge.

In 1969, Bill and Ruth moved to San Francisco, California, where Bill joined the law firm of Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro.  Shortly thereafter, in 1970, their only child, Nicole Watkins Pool, was born.  In 1972 Bill, Ruth and Nicole moved to Brussels, Belgium where Bill represented one of Pillsbury’s European clients from 1972 until 1978.  The family returned to San Francisco in 1978 where Bill practiced law with Pillsbury until 1988.

In 1988, Bill left Pillsbury, and he and Ruth moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Bill practiced law until he retired in 2010.

Bill and Ruth moved to Nacogdoches in October 2012, to be near Nicole and their grandchildren, Juliette and Trey.  During his years in Nacogdoches, Bill was actively involved with Christ Episcopal Church, the Nacogdoches Republican Party and the Nacogdoches Rotary Club.

In the Fall of 2023, the family learned that Bill had Alzheimer’s Disease.  Ruth spent the next two years lovingly caring for Bill at home with the help of Nicole and her husband, Ed.  The last few months of Bill’s life were spent at Willowbrook Nursing Center in Nacogdoches.

The family would like to thank Dr. Mark Cline, Caroline Chance and Erin Sommerlatte of Cline Family Medicine, Harbor Hospice and Willowbrook Nursing Center for the loving care Bill received after his diagnosis.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Muriel and Henry Edward Watkins, Jr., and his brother, Henry “Hank” Edward Watkins, III.

Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Watkins; daughter Nicole Pool & husband, Ed of Nacogdoches; grandchildren Juliette LoStracco of Tyler, Trey Lostracco of Nacogdoches, Callie Berry & husband Shawn of Nacogdoches, Abby Taylor & husband Chase of Nacogdoches, Millie Wilson & husband Tim of Buda and Colton Pool and wife Katy of Nacogdoches; great grandchildren Emory Berry, Asa Berry, Charlee Taylor, Georgia Taylor, Billy Taylor, Bram Wilson, Griffin Wilson, Hewitt Wilson, Camden Wilson and Buck Pool (due March 2026); brother-in-law Walter Smits and wife Jo Ann of Washington D.C. as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill's honor to Nacogdoches Treatment Center 119 Hughes Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.

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