Helen Watkins Earnhart

Helen Watkins Earnhart passed away on June 3, 2018 after a long illness.
Helen was one of five children born to James and Delma Watkins on September 28,
1922. Her parents, James and Delma Watkins, were descendants of Arkansas settlers
and owned a large farm in Bono, Arkansas. They grew many different crops including
cotton, and raised many types of livestock. Helen was very proud of her heritage.
Helen was an excellent student and eventually became her class valedictorian,
She was a member of her high school basketball team and loved dating.
Having an adventurous spirit, she joined the Marine Corps after World War \I
began, and was eventually sent to San Diego where she served as an intelligence
secretary during the war. She continued to write an old sweetheart from high school,
Ernest E. Earnhart, who was serving on a destroyer in the Pacific Theater. They married
near the end of the war at Camp Elliot in San Diego in a military ceremony.
Captured by the beauty of San Diego, they began their life there, rather than returning
to Arkansas. She attended San Diego State for over a year as a student in the
Business Department when her daughter was small. Helen and Ernie eventually had
three children and Helen worked as an elementary school secretary at Franklin
Elementary in San Diego for many years where she was considered indispensable.
The Earnhart's attended San Carlos Methodist Church in San Diego and their
children were married there as well. They eventually welcomed seven grandchildren
and twelve great-grandchildren.
Late in life, they returned to Jonesboro Arkansas, bought a beautiful home and
became active in the local Cornerstone Methodist Church. Helen loved to travel! and
as a couple they explored Hawaii, New Orleans, New England and the Pacific
Northwest. Helen was well known for her beautiful garden and won awards at the State
Fair for her flowers. Her children loved her wonderful cakes and pies and she also had
hobbies such as making stained glass, knitting, camping, and following the San Diego
Padres. She loved spending time with her little poodle, Garvey, (named after Steve
Garvey) and braiding bows in his hair. Helen and Ernie remained in Jonesboro until
Ernie's death on September 2, 2001. Helen eventually joined her son Jim and his family
in San Diego.
She is survived by one sister, Imogene Blackman of Jonesboro, and her children:
Linda Hatch of Tucson, Arizona and Jim Earnhart of San Diego, California and her
grandchildren, Sarah, Alison, Daniel, Mimosa, Julie, Matthew and Adam.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday June 16, 2018 in Trinity Cemetery in Bono, Arkansas, where she will be buried beside her husband Ernie, with Emerson Funeral Home in charge. There will be no visitation.