2023 Grand Marshals
Richard & Edith Watkins
Richard and Edith Watkins
The Grand Marshals for the 2023 West Haven Days Celebration are Richard and Edith Watkins. Richard and Edith are long-time residents of this area.
Richard was born in 1942 and lived his entire life in Kanesville/West Haven. His father, H. Lawrence Watkins moved to Kanesville around 1913, and his mother, Viola Green Watkins was raised in Kanesville. She was a Green and her grandmother was a Peterson, both original families in the community. Richard’s home was where Kanesville Elementary School is now located. In fact, Richard enjoys telling the students at Kanesville that they’re playing basketball in his bedroom. Growing up, if there was a ball around or a ball game being played, Richard was there. He played for the Kanesville Farm Bureau baseball team that won the Farm Bureau championship for Weber County. He graduated from Weber High School in 1960 and then served an LDS mission in France.
Upon his return, Richard attended Weber State University. It was at the LDS Institute of Religion that he met his wife, Edith Kent. Edith was born in Brigham City, Utah and spent most of her childhood years in Kilgore, Idaho, before graduating from Box Elder High in 1962. She attended Weber State, graduating from the school of Cosmetology. They were married in the Logan Temple in 1965. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this past April.
Education was always stressed in the home as Richard grew up. Richard continued his education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Weber State in 1967. He is a member of the Weber State Wildcat Club for over 50 years. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with National Distribution Systems, and stayed with the same company although it changes hands several times, until retiring in 2008 as Director of Public Operations for the Western Region for Kenco Logistics. Edith has spent her time as a stay-at-home mom and, once the children were grown, worked at Hancock Fabric for a few years.
Richard and Edith have five children, all of whom are college graduates as are their spouses, several of which have advanced degrees. They have 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. They spend a good part of their time enjoying family activities.
After retirement, they served an LDS mission in Yerevan, Armenia with responsibility for employment for all of Eastern Europe. This gave them the chance to present workshops and visit several Eastern European countries, which they really enjoyed.
Upon their return, they enjoyed retirement until Richard had some health problems. He has learned to deal with these problems, so now he spends time at the hospital, watching grandchildren participate in their sporting events and playing golf two or three times a week. Edith likes to read, do crafts and work in her flowers making their home a beautiful place. Because of health problems, they sold their home of 40 years and built a single level home in Pheasant Cove subdivision where they enjoy the quiet and where they have great neighbors that they truly enjoy.
They both have served in many different callings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Richard served on the board of the Kanesville Irrigation Company, the West Haven Special Services District board, and was just approved to be a member of the West Haven Historical Committee where he hopes that his lifelong experiences and knowledge of West Haven will help provide historical preservation of our community. Service is important to Richard and Edith. While they might think they might be a little past middle age, they want to serve wherever and whoever we can.
The Grand Marshals for the 2023 West Haven Days Celebration are Richard and Edith Watkins. Richard and Edith are long-time residents of this area.
Richard was born in 1942 and lived his entire life in Kanesville/West Haven. His father, H. Lawrence Watkins moved to Kanesville around 1913, and his mother, Viola Green Watkins was raised in Kanesville. She was a Green and her grandmother was a Peterson, both original families in the community. Richard’s home was where Kanesville Elementary School is now located. In fact, Richard enjoys telling the students at Kanesville that they’re playing basketball in his bedroom. Growing up, if there was a ball around or a ball game being played, Richard was there. He played for the Kanesville Farm Bureau baseball team that won the Farm Bureau championship for Weber County. He graduated from Weber High School in 1960 and then served an LDS mission in France.
Upon his return, Richard attended Weber State University. It was at the LDS Institute of Religion that he met his wife, Edith Kent. Edith was born in Brigham City, Utah and spent most of her childhood years in Kilgore, Idaho, before graduating from Box Elder High in 1962. She attended Weber State, graduating from the school of Cosmetology. They were married in the Logan Temple in 1965. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this past April.
Education was always stressed in the home as Richard grew up. Richard continued his education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Weber State in 1967. He is a member of the Weber State Wildcat Club for over 50 years. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with National Distribution Systems, and stayed with the same company although it changes hands several times, until retiring in 2008 as Director of Public Operations for the Western Region for Kenco Logistics. Edith has spent her time as a stay-at-home mom and, once the children were grown, worked at Hancock Fabric for a few years.
Richard and Edith have five children, all of whom are college graduates as are their spouses, several of which have advanced degrees. They have 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. They spend a good part of their time enjoying family activities.
After retirement, they served an LDS mission in Yerevan, Armenia with responsibility for employment for all of Eastern Europe. This gave them the chance to present workshops and visit several Eastern European countries, which they really enjoyed.
Upon their return, they enjoyed retirement until Richard had some health problems. He has learned to deal with these problems, so now he spends time at the hospital, watching grandchildren participate in their sporting events and playing golf two or three times a week. Edith likes to read, do crafts and work in her flowers making their home a beautiful place. Because of health problems, they sold their home of 40 years and built a single level home in Pheasant Cove subdivision where they enjoy the quiet and where they have great neighbors that they truly enjoy.
They both have served in many different callings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Richard served on the board of the Kanesville Irrigation Company, the West Haven Special Services District board, and was just approved to be a member of the West Haven Historical Committee where he hopes that his lifelong experiences and knowledge of West Haven will help provide historical preservation of our community. Service is important to Richard and Edith. While they might think they might be a little past middle age, they want to serve wherever and whoever we can.