Edna Watkins
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 1 hour, 1 minute AGO
Edna Watkins, 106 years old, passed away peacefully on Aug. 11, 2026.
Edna Watkins, 106 years old, passed away peacefully on Aug. 11, 2026.
Edna was born on the family homestead south of Warden on March 3, 1920, followed by a twin sister, Irene, later that day. Her parents were Fred and Lena Radach whose family immigrated from Volga River Valley, Russia to the United States in the early 1900s. Edna's grandparents were one of the founding families of the Warden Community Church.
In the early years of dryland farming in the area, the farmer provided meals and Edna was an excellent cook. This led to being hired to help a Lind farmer's wife with the harvest cooking. The owner's nephew was working there and she and Roy Watkins married on Jan. 18, 1942. Because of the beginning of World War II, they spent their first years of marriage in Seattle working for Boeing. The only time in Edna's life she was away from Eastern Washington. They soon had the opportunity to return to the family farm and begin farming for Edna's dad and later to begin their own farm operation. In those first years back “home” they lived in a pair of homestead houses that were connected with a passageway. In 1957 they built their dream home and remained there until Roy's passing in 2010.
Edna was an active member in the Warden Community Church as a Sunday school teacher, choir and Ladies’ Aid member. She was also a 4-H leader for many years, entered in the Grant County Fair flower exhibits, was an avid golfer and had a fantastic vegetable garden. They traveled to multiple foreign countries and eventually spent their winters in their motor home in Yuma, Arizona.
She is survived by two children Roylene Scoggin and Roger Watkins (Paula), four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by husband Roy, son-in-law Richard Scoggin, one grandson and one great-granddaughter.
Memorials may be made in Edna's name to the Warden Community Church.
The family would like to thank Monroe Care for the wonderful 16 years she resided in their facility. Thanks also to Hospice and the 24-hour caregivers she needed in her last days.