Randall A. Watkins

Command Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Randall Albert Watkins passed away peacefully on Thursday March 23, 2017 following a courageous battle with cancer.
Randy was born December 1, 1950 in Durham NC to Elba Appel Watkins and the late Lester A. Watkins. He is survived by his wife of 29 years Patrice Vaccaro Watkins; sons Geoffrey Watkins and wife Jen Makim and daughter Audrey; Christopher Watkins; brothers Ricky Watkins and wife Pam and nieces Emily Watkins and Bethany Bullers; Barry Watkins and wife Verna and niece Jillian Watkins and nephew Greyson Watkins and their mother Elaine Watkins.
Randy was passionate about his family, his military service, his southern roots, his friends, automobiles and flying.
He enlisted and served in the US Army from 1969 to 1976, with one year as a helicopter pilot in the Republic of Vietnam. He joined the WRAL-TV staff in 1979 as the first pilot for their first news helicopter, Sky 5. He joined North Carolina Army National Guard Aviation in 1976 and retired in 2011 after over 40 years of military service. His service with NCARNG Aviation Units included as an UH-1, OH-58A/C, UH60A/L helicopter and C-26 fixed-wing Instructor Pilot, maintenance test pilot, and instrument flight examiner. He was an Aviation Life Support Specialist, Safety Officer and served in several Warrant Officer Senior Staff positions culminating as commander for Operational Support Airlift (OSA) Detachment 17, Morrisville, NC. In 2005 Randy deployed with Detachment 17 to Djibouti, Africa in support of the Central Command Mission in Southwest Asia.
During his long and distinguished career in the military, Randy held positions of responsibility and key leadership and received awards and accolades from the highest levels, many of them multiple awards; the Master Army Aviator Badge, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M Device.
Patrice would like to extend the family’s sincere gratitude to their many friends for their love and compassion and to the medical teams at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Hospital, Duke Hospice-Hock Family Pavilion, and the staff of Hillcrest Convalescent Center for their phenomenal care during Randy’s illness.
A service to celebrate his life will be conducted at 1300 hours, April 20, 2017 in the auditorium at North Carolina National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, 1636 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Randy’s memory to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710. Or online at http://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/?designation=3912597.
“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know”.