Mondel Noah Watkins' Obituary
Mondel Noah Watkins, often called “Chief” by those who knew him, peacefully passed on to be with our loving Savior on Monday, December 5, 2022, his beloved wife Trudi standing beside him.
Mondel is survived by his wife of 57 years Trudi Lu Love Watkins, his children Mondel Kenneth Watkins (Monica), Julie Christine Geisz (Peter) and Daniel Joseph Watkins (Lani), and his grandchildren Hannah Rose Geisz, Sarah Emmaline Geisz, Mark David Geisz, Stewart Samuel Geisz and Leah Madison Watkins. He is preceded in death by his parents John Ealy Watkins and Lorena Stewart Watkins Trussell, and his siblings Christine Watkins Peterson, Charlene Watkins Phillips , Marvin Watkins and Norman Watkins.
Mondel was born on July 28, 1934 in Carriere, MS. As a child of the Depression and WWII, life in rural Mississippi was hard but full of fun with his brothers and sisters fishing, picking berries and downing cornbread and buttermilk. Mondel played football for the initial team at Carriere High School.
In 1955 Mondel joined the United States Coast Guard, a decision that would frame his career and take him places all around the US and the world, including New Jersey, Long Beach, Yap Island and Seattle. It was in Southern California where he met the beach-loving California girl Trudi Lu Love. Fortunately, at the time he was wearing his dress whites, had tanned arms and his blue eyes. They were married in 1965.
In 1967 Mondel was honored to serve his country during the Vietnam War, stationed aboard the USS Minnetonka. In 1974, Mondel moved his family to Mandeville, LA when he assumed command of the USCGC Wedge based in New Orleans. After retirement in 1977 he held a variety of jobs, including foreman and truck driver for Simpson Sod of Covington, LA, before returning to the sea at the end of this career as a captain for various yachts out of Orleans Marina in Lake Pontchartrain.
In his final years he took pleasure in visiting with his grandchildren, following the Saints, attending Bible studies with close friends, and building his own woodworking shop, where he created many works of craftmanship.
His family would like to extend their gratitude to all the ICU and Hospice nurses at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, for their compassionate and caring treatment of him in his final days.
Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Service at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 AM until service time. Interment will follow the service at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, Covington, LA. Please Share a Memory on the Tribute Wall at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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