I was contacted by his son, Neal, and informed of his passing. I have attached Neal's email bellow. He was a plank owner.

"I am writing this to inform you that as of September 27,2003 my father Neal C. Watkins MM1 had passed away. He always spoke of his time in the Navy with the highest regard and was proud of all the ships he had the chance to serve on especially the Cochrane and the Robison. I am sure he will be missed."

I never worked around him, but I remember him.
Best wishes to his family.

As a fellow plankowner, I do remember him as I was then a young lad working in the ship's office-many condolences to the family--Dan