Mrs. L. Deloyce (Harrington) Watkins, formerly of 5563 Sheller Rd., Chambersburg, PA, died August 31, 2025, in York, PA.
She was born July 13, 1934, in Maryville, MO and was the daughter of the late Roy W. and Elsie A. (Rogers) Harrington.
She spent her early life in Maryville, MO, Bremerton, WA, and Pickering, MO. She graduated in 1952 from Horace Mann High School in Maryville, MO and received B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (Rochester, MY) in 1956 and 1959. She taught instrumental music in the elementary public schools in Williamsport, PA from 1956-1958 and did some substitute teaching in the Waynesboro School System, Waynesboro, PA.
She and her late husband, Thomas H. Watkins were married September 5, 1959, in Williamsport, PA. They lived in Tobyhanna, PA, Ft. Knox, KY, Ludwigsburg, West Germany, Edgewood and Joppatown, MD, Copperas Cove, TX, Waynesboro and Chambersburg, PA. Her older son, Peter R. Watkins, died March 6, 2012.
Mrs. Watkins was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro where she sang in the Senior Choir for a number of years and served as an elder of the church for 18 years and deacon for 12 years. Since 1970, she was a member of the Euterpe Music Club, violinist in We Three for 20 years, and a member of the Mercersburg Community Chorus & Orchestra from 1975 – 2013. Mrs. Watkins was a past member of the Chamber Orchestra of Unterturkheim (West Germany), Millbrook Chamber Orchestra (Shepherdstown, WV), Maryland Symphony (Hagerstown, MD) and played in the CVSM Community String Orchestra (Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA). She also worked 8 years as a church and financial secretary at Christ United Methodist Church in Waynesboro and as a bookkeeper for Forever Yours and Chains Unlimited & Coldcasting (Small businesses owned by her late husband).
She is survived by one son, David L. Watkins, Sr., of Shippensburg, PA, one granddaughter, Julie M. Watkins of Shippensburg, and a grandson, David L. Watkins, Jr., of Shippensburg; the following nieces: Ann E. Hunter, Melissa Lesser and Brittany Strous; and nephews, David L. Strous, Joshua Strous, Brandon Strous, Riley Strous, and Lucas Strous.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, September 13, 2025, in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro with Pastor Ruth Ward officiating. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends beginning at 1:30 P.M., until the time of the service Saturday afternoon in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Waynesboro Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro, 105 E. Main St., Waynesboro, PA 17268.
