Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mr. John Maceo Watson Jr., 96, of Beckley died Monday, August 31, 2015.

Born January 24, 1919, in Keystone, WV, he was the son of the late John A. and Katie Clanton Watson.

Mr. Watson was a Boiler Operator and EEO Investigator for VA Hospital, Beckley, World War II Veteran, Tuskegee Airman, and a member of Masonic Lodge. He attended high school in North Fork, WV, before joining the military.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Blanche Payne Watson; second wife, Lura Moss Watson; brothers, Richard Watson and Eugene Watson, sisters, Annie Watson, Rosa Bell English, and Corrine Watson.

Those left to cherish precious memories are his son, John N. Watson of Columbus, Ohio; daughters, Norma Jean Watson Stanley of Baltimore, MD, Daphne Watson of Atlanta, GA, Yolanda Watson Gill, and Maria Gaddis, both of Morgantown, WV; sisters, Annice Scruggs of Knoxville, TN, and Helen Patterson of Washington, DC; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Monday, September 7, 2015, at Heart of God Ministries, 1703 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, with Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Condolences may be emailed to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley, WV.