Glenn Alan Watkins, 71, passed away on April 20, 2025, after a brief, brave battle with cancer. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Glenn lived a life centered on family, creativity, and quiet strength.
He was born in Visalia, California, and spent most of his adult life in Redding and later Napa, where he and his wife built a home full of love and laughter. Glenn was married to his beloved wife Jan for 47 years. Together, they created a life rich in meaningful memories. He was a proud and supportive father to David (Tara), Chris (Sarah), and Jessica (Ryan), and a joyful grandfather to Lulu, Mason, Wyatt, Sophia, and Graham, who will never forget the giggles that came when he’d lift them up and tickle them with his “ZZ Top” beard.
A true craftsman, Glenn enjoyed tinkering and had a gift for fixing and restoring just about anything, whether it was his prized ’58 Chevy, a Harley (in pieces) that arrived in the back of an El Camino, or a plumbing issue around the house. He was never without a project (or several) in the works. His garage, always alive with music, was both his workshop and his sanctuary.
Glenn had a sharp mind and a lifelong love of learning. He was an avid reader and a thoughtful conversationalist with a quick wit and dry sense of humor. A friend recently recalled his way of cutting through the nonsense with quiet clarity, always with a smile or a gently amused remark.
He saw value in the broken and forgotten, whether it was a treasure he’d found while out with Jan or a discarded toy he lovingly repaired for a grandchild. Glenn accepted people as they were, and in doing so, drew others to him with his kindness, humility, and unwavering loyalty.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mamie Ruth Chivers Watkins and David C. Watkins, as well as his siblings, David Watkins and Meralee “Sis” Rocha.
Glenn’s legacy lives on in the things he built, the people he loved, and the lives he touched with his calm presence and generous heart. He will be deeply missed.
A private memorial will be held by his family at a later date. In Glenn’s honor, his family asks that you perform an act of kindness in his memory.
Obituary by Glenn Alan Watkins’ family.
