RLINGTON - Marjorie Mae (Actkinson)!Watkins, 72, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died at her home in her sleep, Tuesday, April 20, 1999. She had not been well for some time.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Friday at Moore Funeral Home in Arlington. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Margie was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was the third of nine children born to Oliver Grant and Tessie Mae (Hollabaugh) Actkinson. In 1941 when Margie was 15, the Actkinson family moved from Vera, Texas to Arlington, Texas . Her older brother, Elmer, helped his parents buy a house at 904 South Pecan St. Margie was a graduate of the 1944 class of Arlington High School.
Margie married Frank Watkins in 1949 when she was age 23. Frank was in the U S Army. Her parents tried to persuade her not to marry Frank since he drank a lot, but she thought that would change. They had four children Ronald "Ronnie" Allen, b Oct 19, 1950; Michael (Mike) Jay, b May 20, 1952; Randolph " Randy" Eugene, b May 3, 1954; and Victoria "Vicki" Lynn b 1956. Frank's drinking problem got worse instead of better. Margie and her young children came to her parents home in Arlington about 1957. They lived in a small house located in her parent's back yard. She had a difficult time, but finally got a divorce from Frank about 1958. She ran it in a newspaper in another town, and he did not come forward to object. Margie got a job at Texas Instruments in Richardson. She was a circuit maker on the assembly line. Texas Instruments paid well, but it was a demanding job and not close to Arlington. She was soon able to purchase a small house located close to her parent's home. She carpooled with others at Texas Instruments and had to leave very early in the morning for work. Her mother would arrive later to get the children up, and get the ones old enough to attend off to school. She kept the younger ones at home. It would have been impossible for Margie to make it without her mother's help. When the children were young teenagers, Frank came back into the picture. Margie and Frank remarried for the second time in the early 1960s. Margie was hesitant, but her boys indicated they wanted to go with their Daddy. Frank seemed to have changed for the better. However, they divorced for the second time. Later years, Frank started working for the Merchant Marines. Things seemed much better between Margie and Frank by 1970. Frank called Margie to tell her he was leaving to go out into the water and when he would be back. That same evening, April 7, 1970, the police notified Margie their 18 y/o son Ronnie and his wife had both been killed instantly when someone ran a red light. Margie was able to reach Frank before he left. They not only made the funeral arrangements together, but they remarried for the third time on April 10, 1970. This time, Margie chose to do this for herself and not because her children wanted it. They bought a bigger house, but Margie kept her small house. Unfortunately, Margie and Frank were divorced the third time on Nov 6, 1975. Being an alcoholic is such a horrible disease. Frank died about five years later in a house fire Feb 2, 1980 at the age of 51.
Margie went back to live in her small house after their divorce. Texas Instruments were having big layoffs in about 1975. Margie was able to retire from there, though. She later worked at Crow Elementary School in Arlington as a cafeteria cook, and retired from there. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Margie did marry another man, later. That marriage was a mistake with a different kind of problems, and also ended in divorce. Margie later shared with me how she felt like she was a bad person. She was able though as time went on to realize that was not true. She just made some bad choices. Margie was a very good person. I loved her as my cousin. I always thought she was so pretty. She experienced some very difficult times with her health before she died.
Survivors: Sons, Michael J. Watkins and his wife, Sallie, of Godley and Randolph (Randy) E. Watkins of Arlington; daughter, Victoria (Vicky) Lynn Ditto and her husband, Gary, of Arlington; brother, Wallace Actinson of Lindin; sisters, Ola Neely of Burleson, Irene Nation (E. G.) of Arlington, Nancy (Don) Kirk of Shreveport, La., and Ruth ( Ray) Havins of Bonham; grandchildren, Michael Watkins and his wife, Genny, of Arlington, Christopher Watkins and his wife, Amy, of Carrollton, Ronald Watkins and his wife, Julie, James Ditto, John Ditto, Candace Ditto and Heather Watkins, all of Arlington; and four great-grandchildren.
Margie is preceded in death by her oldest son, Ronald Allen; parents, Oliver and Tessie Actkinson; brothers Elmer Lee and Clyde Randall; sister, Kathleen Annette Durham.
Moore Funeral Home
1219 N. Davis Drive, 275-2711
Lovingly provided for my cousin, Judy Robertson Evans #49706236, Sept 2, 2023
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Friday at Moore Funeral Home in Arlington. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Margie was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was the third of nine children born to Oliver Grant and Tessie Mae (Hollabaugh) Actkinson. In 1941 when Margie was 15, the Actkinson family moved from Vera, Texas to Arlington, Texas . Her older brother, Elmer, helped his parents buy a house at 904 South Pecan St. Margie was a graduate of the 1944 class of Arlington High School.
Margie married Frank Watkins in 1949 when she was age 23. Frank was in the U S Army. Her parents tried to persuade her not to marry Frank since he drank a lot, but she thought that would change. They had four children Ronald "Ronnie" Allen, b Oct 19, 1950; Michael (Mike) Jay, b May 20, 1952; Randolph " Randy" Eugene, b May 3, 1954; and Victoria "Vicki" Lynn b 1956. Frank's drinking problem got worse instead of better. Margie and her young children came to her parents home in Arlington about 1957. They lived in a small house located in her parent's back yard. She had a difficult time, but finally got a divorce from Frank about 1958. She ran it in a newspaper in another town, and he did not come forward to object. Margie got a job at Texas Instruments in Richardson. She was a circuit maker on the assembly line. Texas Instruments paid well, but it was a demanding job and not close to Arlington. She was soon able to purchase a small house located close to her parent's home. She carpooled with others at Texas Instruments and had to leave very early in the morning for work. Her mother would arrive later to get the children up, and get the ones old enough to attend off to school. She kept the younger ones at home. It would have been impossible for Margie to make it without her mother's help. When the children were young teenagers, Frank came back into the picture. Margie and Frank remarried for the second time in the early 1960s. Margie was hesitant, but her boys indicated they wanted to go with their Daddy. Frank seemed to have changed for the better. However, they divorced for the second time. Later years, Frank started working for the Merchant Marines. Things seemed much better between Margie and Frank by 1970. Frank called Margie to tell her he was leaving to go out into the water and when he would be back. That same evening, April 7, 1970, the police notified Margie their 18 y/o son Ronnie and his wife had both been killed instantly when someone ran a red light. Margie was able to reach Frank before he left. They not only made the funeral arrangements together, but they remarried for the third time on April 10, 1970. This time, Margie chose to do this for herself and not because her children wanted it. They bought a bigger house, but Margie kept her small house. Unfortunately, Margie and Frank were divorced the third time on Nov 6, 1975. Being an alcoholic is such a horrible disease. Frank died about five years later in a house fire Feb 2, 1980 at the age of 51.
Margie went back to live in her small house after their divorce. Texas Instruments were having big layoffs in about 1975. Margie was able to retire from there, though. She later worked at Crow Elementary School in Arlington as a cafeteria cook, and retired from there. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Margie did marry another man, later. That marriage was a mistake with a different kind of problems, and also ended in divorce. Margie later shared with me how she felt like she was a bad person. She was able though as time went on to realize that was not true. She just made some bad choices. Margie was a very good person. I loved her as my cousin. I always thought she was so pretty. She experienced some very difficult times with her health before she died.
Survivors: Sons, Michael J. Watkins and his wife, Sallie, of Godley and Randolph (Randy) E. Watkins of Arlington; daughter, Victoria (Vicky) Lynn Ditto and her husband, Gary, of Arlington; brother, Wallace Actinson of Lindin; sisters, Ola Neely of Burleson, Irene Nation (E. G.) of Arlington, Nancy (Don) Kirk of Shreveport, La., and Ruth ( Ray) Havins of Bonham; grandchildren, Michael Watkins and his wife, Genny, of Arlington, Christopher Watkins and his wife, Amy, of Carrollton, Ronald Watkins and his wife, Julie, James Ditto, John Ditto, Candace Ditto and Heather Watkins, all of Arlington; and four great-grandchildren.
Margie is preceded in death by her oldest son, Ronald Allen; parents, Oliver and Tessie Actkinson; brothers Elmer Lee and Clyde Randall; sister, Kathleen Annette Durham.
Moore Funeral Home
1219 N. Davis Drive, 275-2711
Lovingly provided for my cousin, Judy Robertson Evans #49706236, Sept 2, 2023
RLINGTON - Marjorie Mae (Actkinson)!Watkins, 72, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died at her home in her sleep, Tuesday, April 20, 1999. She had not been well for some time.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Friday at Moore Funeral Home in Arlington. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Margie was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was the third of nine children born to Oliver Grant and Tessie Mae (Hollabaugh) Actkinson. In 1941 when Margie was 15, the Actkinson family moved from Vera, Texas to Arlington, Texas . Her older brother, Elmer, helped his parents buy a house at 904 South Pecan St. Margie was a graduate of the 1944 class of Arlington High School.
Margie married Frank Watkins in 1949 when she was age 23. Frank was in the U S Army. Her parents tried to persuade her not to marry Frank since he drank a lot, but she thought that would change. They had four children Ronald "Ronnie" Allen, b Oct 19, 1950; Michael (Mike) Jay, b May 20, 1952; Randolph " Randy" Eugene, b May 3, 1954; and Victoria "Vicki" Lynn b 1956. Frank's drinking problem got worse instead of better. Margie and her young children came to her parents home in Arlington about 1957. They lived in a small house located in her parent's back yard. She had a difficult time, but finally got a divorce from Frank about 1958. She ran it in a newspaper in another town, and he did not come forward to object. Margie got a job at Texas Instruments in Richardson. She was a circuit maker on the assembly line. Texas Instruments paid well, but it was a demanding job and not close to Arlington. She was soon able to purchase a small house located close to her parent's home. She carpooled with others at Texas Instruments and had to leave very early in the morning for work. Her mother would arrive later to get the children up, and get the ones old enough to attend off to school. She kept the younger ones at home. It would have been impossible for Margie to make it without her mother's help. When the children were young teenagers, Frank came back into the picture. Margie and Frank remarried for the second time in the early 1960s. Margie was hesitant, but her boys indicated they wanted to go with their Daddy. Frank seemed to have changed for the better. However, they divorced for the second time. Later years, Frank started working for the Merchant Marines. Things seemed much better between Margie and Frank by 1970. Frank called Margie to tell her he was leaving to go out into the water and when he would be back. That same evening, April 7, 1970, the police notified Margie their 18 y/o son Ronnie and his wife had both been killed instantly when someone ran a red light. Margie was able to reach Frank before he left. They not only made the funeral arrangements together, but they remarried for the third time on April 10, 1970. This time, Margie chose to do this for herself and not because her children wanted it. They bought a bigger house, but Margie kept her small house. Unfortunately, Margie and Frank were divorced the third time on Nov 6, 1975. Being an alcoholic is such a horrible disease. Frank died about five years later in a house fire Feb 2, 1980 at the age of 51.
Margie went back to live in her small house after their divorce. Texas Instruments were having big layoffs in about 1975. Margie was able to retire from there, though. She later worked at Crow Elementary School in Arlington as a cafeteria cook, and retired from there. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Margie did marry another man, later. That marriage was a mistake with a different kind of problems, and also ended in divorce. Margie later shared with me how she felt like she was a bad person. She was able though as time went on to realize that was not true. She just made some bad choices. Margie was a very good person. I loved her as my cousin. I always thought she was so pretty. She experienced some very difficult times with her health before she died.
Survivors: Sons, Michael J. Watkins and his wife, Sallie, of Godley and Randolph (Randy) E. Watkins of Arlington; daughter, Victoria (Vicky) Lynn Ditto and her husband, Gary, of Arlington; brother, Wallace Actinson of Lindin; sisters, Ola Neely of Burleson, Irene Nation (E. G.) of Arlington, Nancy (Don) Kirk of Shreveport, La., and Ruth ( Ray) Havins of Bonham; grandchildren, Michael Watkins and his wife, Genny, of Arlington, Christopher Watkins and his wife, Amy, of Carrollton, Ronald Watkins and his wife, Julie, James Ditto, John Ditto, Candace Ditto and Heather Watkins, all of Arlington; and four great-grandchildren.
Margie is preceded in death by her oldest son, Ronald Allen; parents, Oliver and Tessie Actkinson; brothers Elmer Lee and Clyde Randall; sister, Kathleen Annette Durham.
Moore Funeral Home
1219 N. Davis Drive, 275-2711
Lovingly provided for my cousin, Judy Robertson Evans #49706236, Sept 2, 2023
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Friday at Moore Funeral Home in Arlington. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Margie was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was the third of nine children born to Oliver Grant and Tessie Mae (Hollabaugh) Actkinson. In 1941 when Margie was 15, the Actkinson family moved from Vera, Texas to Arlington, Texas . Her older brother, Elmer, helped his parents buy a house at 904 South Pecan St. Margie was a graduate of the 1944 class of Arlington High School.
Margie married Frank Watkins in 1949 when she was age 23. Frank was in the U S Army. Her parents tried to persuade her not to marry Frank since he drank a lot, but she thought that would change. They had four children Ronald "Ronnie" Allen, b Oct 19, 1950; Michael (Mike) Jay, b May 20, 1952; Randolph " Randy" Eugene, b May 3, 1954; and Victoria "Vicki" Lynn b 1956. Frank's drinking problem got worse instead of better. Margie and her young children came to her parents home in Arlington about 1957. They lived in a small house located in her parent's back yard. She had a difficult time, but finally got a divorce from Frank about 1958. She ran it in a newspaper in another town, and he did not come forward to object. Margie got a job at Texas Instruments in Richardson. She was a circuit maker on the assembly line. Texas Instruments paid well, but it was a demanding job and not close to Arlington. She was soon able to purchase a small house located close to her parent's home. She carpooled with others at Texas Instruments and had to leave very early in the morning for work. Her mother would arrive later to get the children up, and get the ones old enough to attend off to school. She kept the younger ones at home. It would have been impossible for Margie to make it without her mother's help. When the children were young teenagers, Frank came back into the picture. Margie and Frank remarried for the second time in the early 1960s. Margie was hesitant, but her boys indicated they wanted to go with their Daddy. Frank seemed to have changed for the better. However, they divorced for the second time. Later years, Frank started working for the Merchant Marines. Things seemed much better between Margie and Frank by 1970. Frank called Margie to tell her he was leaving to go out into the water and when he would be back. That same evening, April 7, 1970, the police notified Margie their 18 y/o son Ronnie and his wife had both been killed instantly when someone ran a red light. Margie was able to reach Frank before he left. They not only made the funeral arrangements together, but they remarried for the third time on April 10, 1970. This time, Margie chose to do this for herself and not because her children wanted it. They bought a bigger house, but Margie kept her small house. Unfortunately, Margie and Frank were divorced the third time on Nov 6, 1975. Being an alcoholic is such a horrible disease. Frank died about five years later in a house fire Feb 2, 1980 at the age of 51.
Margie went back to live in her small house after their divorce. Texas Instruments were having big layoffs in about 1975. Margie was able to retire from there, though. She later worked at Crow Elementary School in Arlington as a cafeteria cook, and retired from there. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Margie did marry another man, later. That marriage was a mistake with a different kind of problems, and also ended in divorce. Margie later shared with me how she felt like she was a bad person. She was able though as time went on to realize that was not true. She just made some bad choices. Margie was a very good person. I loved her as my cousin. I always thought she was so pretty. She experienced some very difficult times with her health before she died.
Survivors: Sons, Michael J. Watkins and his wife, Sallie, of Godley and Randolph (Randy) E. Watkins of Arlington; daughter, Victoria (Vicky) Lynn Ditto and her husband, Gary, of Arlington; brother, Wallace Actinson of Lindin; sisters, Ola Neely of Burleson, Irene Nation (E. G.) of Arlington, Nancy (Don) Kirk of Shreveport, La., and Ruth ( Ray) Havins of Bonham; grandchildren, Michael Watkins and his wife, Genny, of Arlington, Christopher Watkins and his wife, Amy, of Carrollton, Ronald Watkins and his wife, Julie, James Ditto, John Ditto, Candace Ditto and Heather Watkins, all of Arlington; and four great-grandchildren.
Margie is preceded in death by her oldest son, Ronald Allen; parents, Oliver and Tessie Actkinson; brothers Elmer Lee and Clyde Randall; sister, Kathleen Annette Durham.
Moore Funeral Home
1219 N. Davis Drive, 275-2711
Lovingly provided for my cousin, Judy Robertson Evans #49706236, Sept 2, 2023
Family Members
Siblings
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Rev Elmer Lee Actkinson
1923–1991
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Thada "Irene" Actkinson Nation
1924–2012
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James Wallace Actkinson
1928–2004
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Mary Ruth Actkinson Havins
1932–2013
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Kathleen Annette "Katha" Actkinson Durham
1936–1989
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Ola Ann Actkinson Neely
1938–2012
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Clyde Randell "Buddy" Actkinson
1940–1940
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Nancy Ethel Actkinson Kirk
1948–2022
