RICHARD CLIVE "DICK" WATSON

1914 - 2011

Richard "Dick" Clive Watson, 96, of Genoa, Ill., passed away peacefully in his home May 25, 2011. He was born Dec. 28, 1914, in Genoa, to Clive and Mary "Mayme" (Teyler) Watson.
Richard married Leona Lee June 12, 1936; they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2006. Dick and Lee were lifelong residents of the Genoa area. They worked closely together in business in Genoa for 42 years. They owned and operated an earth-moving and land-clearing business, Watson Furniture and Appliances and Watson Real Estate. They sold many houses and farms in the area, developed five subdivisions and built more than 120 homes before retiring in 1980.
Richard was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Genoa. He had a 40-year passion for flying, and owned and flew several airplanes. His retirement hobbies included woodworking, wood carving, traveling and spoiling his grandchildren. Richard was a long time member of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Genoa School Board, on the DeKalb County Planning Commission, active in the DeKalb County Republican Party, spent considerable time on the Chief Shabbona Council of Boy Scouts of America and volunteered at the Kishwaukee Heritage Museum in Genoa. Richard was a great salesman and he always enjoyed hearing and telling a good story.
He is survived by two sons – Don (Kim) of Castle Rock, Colo., and his three children: Kelly (Jason) Hawkins and her daughters, Jenna and Kate, of Lantana, Texas, Brent (Angie) and son, Julian, of Austin, Texas, and Brian of Irving, Texas – and Bruce (Kathy) of Granite Shoals, Texas, and Bruce's four children: Matthew (Stephanie) of Plano, Texas, Mark of Austin, Texas, Kristina of New York and Stephanie, who is attending Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Leona; his stepfather, Edwin Krueger; and two brothers, Robert and Howard Watson.
His family is very grateful and extends warm thanks to Jerzy (George) for his friendship and caretaking over the years, as well as Pastor Frick of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the nurses of DeKalb County Hospice.
At Richard's specific request, the family will have a private graveside service at Hampshire Center Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Richard's name to Trinity Lutheran Church, 33930 N. State Road, Genoa, IL 60135, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements have been completed by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., Cooper-Quiram Chapel. To share a memory or send a condolence, visit www.OlsonFH.com, or call 815-784-2518.