Service Held for Willie Donald “Buddy” Watkins

Funeral services for Willie Donald “Buddy” Watkins, 85, of Ada were held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday August 12, 2025, at the First Methodist Church of Ada. Dustin Wilhite (nephew) officiated the service. The family received friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday August 11, 2025 at Criswell Funeral Home.

W.D. “Buddy” Watkins was born on October 29th, 1939, at Coalgate, OK. He passed away peacefully at home on August 8, 2025, in Ada.

Buddy graduated from Coalgate High School in 1957, then moved to Ada where he attended East Central University and began his career at Valley View Hospital.

Buddy earned a bachelor’s degree in business. After graduation, Buddy was given the opportunity to develop the Human Resources department at Valley View Hospital, and continued as the Vice President of Human Resources at VVRH for 40 years. In 1969, he hired a cardiac care nurse, Paula Winegeart, from the Texas panhandle. They fell in love and later that year were married. Buddy and Paula had two children, James and Pamela.

Buddy was active in the community serving in the Lions Club, Ada Area Chemical Dependency and various boards within the church they attended. He also served as the president of Mental Health Services of Southern Oklahoma on more than one term.

Buddy was a longtime faithful member of the First Methodist Church in Ada. His favorite past time was raising cattle and being at the farm. He loved being outdoors, camping, and hunting but most of all loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids whom he could never tell “no.”

Survivors include his wife, Paula of 55 years; son, James Watkins and wife Sherri of Ada; daughter, Pamela Beard and husband Country of Coalgate; grandchildren, Lauryn Watkins, Levi Beard, Leila Beard, Christian Ellis, Trenton Ellis, Jose Morales, Larissa Watkins, and Leighton Watkins; brother, Eddie Watkins and wife Gerry; sister-inlaw, Diana Watkins; numerous sisters-inlaw, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and his two loyal right hand men, Jerry George and Mike Lee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William James and Luda Puckett Watkins and brother, Glen Watkins.