ForeverMissed
Large image
On Saturday April 25,2020, Clarence Darrow “Butch” Watkins, Jr. passed away peacefully and painlessly at home with his wife, after a short battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

Butch was born in Bridgeton, N.J. on March 10,1949 to Clarence D Watkins, Sr and Evelyn Williams Watkins. He attended Bridgeton Public Schools, where he was active in High School Chorus, Drama and Football. He also sang in the youth choir at United Methodist Church in Bridgeton. He studied Chemistry at Maryville College in Tennessee, where he met and married his first wife, Judy Clark of Ohio. They returned to Bridgeton and worked as groundskeepers at Holly Hills Golf Club. After the marriage ended, Butch pursued a professional career in music, travelling to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona with the Lost Texas Band playing Country and Western in roadhouses. He was an accomplished bass player with a velvety baritone voice.

Butch again returned to Bridgeton to care for his mother Evelyn in her home as she succumbed   cancer. There he bought a small music store and continued playing in bands including The Soft Touch and Joan’s Headache. He became proficient in sound engineering and worked for a short time at Four Way Studios in Pennsauken, N.J. He assisted with many music festivals in and around Bridgeton.

Butch worked for Agway Petroleum in sales, then for South Jersey Gas in Glassboro N.J. as a training supervisor. He called this his “real job” and retired in 2014.

Butch met his second wife, Mary Donnelly-Fusco of Bridgeton, in 2002 through Match.com. They found that they had many common interests in music, science and Nature, and coincidentally, many common friends. They also found that they lived less than two miles from each other. They dated and then lived together for ten years, then were married on October 7, 2012.

Butch is pre-deceased by his parents Clarence and Evelyn Watkins and his brother William Watkins. He is survived by his devoted wife Mary (Donnelly) Watkins of Bridgeton, step son David J. Fusco of Willingboro, N.J., sister-in-law Kathy Watkins and nephews Bill and Chris Watkins of Mays Landing N.J. as well as Mary’s sisters and brothers and many dear friends. He considered the two cats, Goldie and Callie, to be his kids.

Butch had a difficult life of chronic pain and physical limitations. His quick, painless and peaceful passing is considered a blessing. I, his loving wife, will miss my “Rock Star” forever. There will be no service at this time.

Donations in his name can be made to ASPCA, or CU Maurice River at cu.mauriceriver.org.

Fertig Funeral Home
June 18, 2021
June 18, 2021
I was truly blest to have been one of Butch's music teachers in the music store he owned in Bridgeton in the 80s and early 90s! We went through 3 locations together. He was the "real deal" and just always a wonderful individual with a tremendous heart! I am so sorry we didn't keep in touch in recent years:(  I don't think he had an enemy in the world! He will be truly missed!!! RIP, my brother!!!
May 28, 2020
May 28, 2020
Butch was good to my aunt mary and made her tremendously happy. She enjoyed her life because of him and she is a solemn lover of people or shall I say carer or nurturer and this is why it's so hard for her to lose Butch. She loved him very much and her love for him will carry on into the days and nights and hopefully she will share his light and what she left him with other souls in her journeys. Butch you will be missed and eternally loved.
May 16, 2020
May 16, 2020
Will miss all our conversations full of trivia, history, facts,and heart. I was blessed to have him in my life. Love to Rockstar and to Mary always.
May 16, 2020
May 16, 2020
Butch was great guy, I had many great conversations with him , as well as laughs. 
May 16, 2020
May 16, 2020
You are missed, Butch. I am so glad you and Mary crossed paths to share your love together. Rest easy.

Leave a Tribute

Light a Candle
Lay a Flower
Leave a Note
 
Recent Tributes
June 18, 2021
June 18, 2021
I was truly blest to have been one of Butch's music teachers in the music store he owned in Bridgeton in the 80s and early 90s! We went through 3 locations together. He was the "real deal" and just always a wonderful individual with a tremendous heart! I am so sorry we didn't keep in touch in recent years:(  I don't think he had an enemy in the world! He will be truly missed!!! RIP, my brother!!!
May 28, 2020
May 28, 2020
Butch was good to my aunt mary and made her tremendously happy. She enjoyed her life because of him and she is a solemn lover of people or shall I say carer or nurturer and this is why it's so hard for her to lose Butch. She loved him very much and her love for him will carry on into the days and nights and hopefully she will share his light and what she left him with other souls in her journeys. Butch you will be missed and eternally loved.
Recent stories

Invite others to Clarence's website:

Invite by email

Post to your timeline