DOVER - Franklin Watkins, of Dover, passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, in Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 77. Franklin was born Oct. 5, 1934, in Crumpler, W.Va., and live in the Bronx, N.Y., for over 30 years, before moving to Dover in 1991. He was a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service for 35 years, retiring in 1991. Mr. Watkins was a member of the Union Missionary Baptist Church, of Dover, where he had served as a sexton, as well as various church committees. He was a U.S. Army Veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Watkins in 1998. Franklin is survived by a son, Jeffrey Watkins, and his fiancé Susan Estrada of the Bronx, N.Y.; granddaughter, Jessica Celeste Watkins of the Bronx, N.Y.; a brother, Joseph; and a sister, Frances, both of West Virginia. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, in the Union Missionary Baptist Church, 883 Lincoln St., Dover, where family and friends may view two hours before. Burial will take place Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd., Bear. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the church. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.