Rev. Vincent W. WATSON

WATSON, Rev. Vincent W.


Rev. Vincent W. Watson, 97, of Bloomfield, passed away on Wednesday, (August 7, 2013). He was born in Hempstead, NY on March 5, 1916, the son of Floyd and Grace (Vincent) Watson. On March 2, 1942, he married Jacquelyn (Walton) Watson, his beloved wife of 71 years. They had two children: Grace Marilyn Watson (deceased), William F. Watson and his wife Marcia of Bloomfield. He also leaves two grandchildren: Adam (and wife, Lori) Watson of Brooklyn, NY and Jennifer (and husband, Christopher) Mackowski of Granby; and four great-grandchildren: Tyler and Alyssa Mackowski and Alexandra and Nicholas Watson. Rev. Watson was a graduate of South Side High School, Rockville Center, NY and Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. He taught Music at Hamden Sidney College in VA before pursuing Music Ministry at United Methodist churches in Jackson, TN; Reno, NV; and Jackson, MS. He completed graduate work at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA and at Adelphi College, Garden City, NY. Following his 1952 ordination into the United Methodist Church, he served in Bellport and Rockville Center, NY; Forestville (1957-64), New Britain (1964-74), and Clinton (1974-81). After retiring in 1981, Rev. Watson was Minister of Visitation for the Plainville UMC and Asbury UMC in Forestville as well as serving as Interim Pastor at Bloomfield UMC and as a guest Pastor in the Greater Hartford area. He also enjoyed singing bass in the church choir and serving on many UMC Conference committees. In 1955, Rev. Watson received a Freedom Foundation (Valley Forge, PA) Award and the George Washington medal for a Memorial Day sermon, "Our Responsibility for Remembering." Participation in civic activities included the 1963 March on Washington and a 1965 trip to Selma, AL. His daily Dial-A-Lift telephone ministry evolved into midweek and weekend mini-messages sent via email to 250 correspondents. Fishing, golf, and gardening provided fellowship and relaxation. In 1984, Rev. Watson began genealogy research which led to an expansive family tree; an only child with few close relatives, Rev. Watson discovered ancestry connections as far back as the fifth century!
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 90 Church Avenue, Forestville. Burial will be private at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 90 Church Ave., Forestville, CT 06010 or to Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 237 School St., Bloomfield, CT 06002. For online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com