Robert L. "Pete" Watson

1925 - 2021

Robert L. "Pete" Watson, 96, a lifelong resident of Slippery Rock, passed away peacefully at his home on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.
Born on Sept. 21, 1925, and was the son of the late Grover Cleveland Watson and Florence Alma Hines Watson,
Pete's early years were influenced by the Great Depression. In those tough times, he played street hockey with his friends using tree branches as hockey sticks and a flattened soup can as the puck.
He graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1943, and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He participated in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Tirante (SS-420) Tench-Class submarine, under the command of Cpt. George L. Street III. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with one star, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star and the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia with one gold star.
Of his time in the Navy, Pete stated that he loved every job to which he was assigned, and would've remained a career serviceman had it not been for the sudden passing of his father in early 1946, at which point he returned to Slippery Rock to assist his mother with operating the family's convenience store.
He worked in various areas of Butler County's local government, including county treasurer and detective for the district attorney, before being elected sheriff in 1966. He then served as magistrate of the Slippery Rock district justice office starting in 1982. After his 1991 retirement, he was appointed senior judge and filled temporary vacancies. He was also a volunteer firefighter for Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company for many years. He was a lifelong enthusiastic Republican and a member of American Legion Post 0393, Sons of the American Revolution, USSVI Requin Base, Good Fellows, Voiture Locale, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Pete's favorite hideouts included Slippery Rock's own Camelot Restaurant on South Main Street, and the Clearview Flea Market on Route 8 in Butler, where he bought and sold collectible coins. He also dug through landfills to amass a sizable collection of antique bottles and other glassware, which he stored in a specially-designed "Bottle Room" in his basement. He was a truly good, selfless and generous man. Generous too was his sodium intake - every meal and the table below it received a healthy dose of salt before the first bite.
His quick wit and colorful vocabulary made every conversation memorable.
He is survived by four daughters, Bev Watson, who had an instrumental role in caring for him over the years, Linda (Tom) Boyd, Judy Zulick, and Penny (Damon) David-Covert; two sons, John L. Watson and Thomas R. (Nancy) Watson; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Norma Laughner and Louise Houpt; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Isabel Florence Watson (Grossman), whom he married on Jan. 19, 1949; two brothers, John A. and Thomas E. Watson; and an infant sister, Ruth.
WATSON - Family and friends of Robert L. "Pete" Watson, who died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, will be received from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, 130 Franklin St., Slippery Rock.
Interment will follow at Slippery Rock Cemetery, and the procession will return to the church for lunch.
Please consider memorial donations to Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company or UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.