C. John Watts III

1946 - 2024

C. John Watts, III

May 17, 1946 - October 26, 2024

C. John Watts, III, passed on October 26,2024, at Carolina Caring after a rapid decline fighting dementia and Parkinsons.

John was born in Findlay, Ohio on May 17, 1946, to the late Eleanor Ortleb Watts and Clifford John Watts, Jr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Thomas.

His family moved around the southeast- primarily in eastern North Carolina. John graduated from Dunn High School and went onto THE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you knew John, then you knew he was a Tar Heel. Taking a break from his education in 1967, he was drafted into serving our country and served during Vietnam. In 1969, he married Celeste Black and they spent one year stationed in Frankfurt, Germany to complete his military service before returning to Chapel Hill where he graduated in 1971.

After a brief time in Henderson, NC, John and Celeste moved to Hickory to establish roots and raise a family. John served many clients throughout the years in insurance and securities, as well as, countless hours of community service. He served on the boards of the Hickory Community Theatre, Red Cross, Catawba County Arts Council, the Hickory Art Museum, Catawba County Partnership for Children, and Family Guidance. He was elected to serve on both the Hickory School Board and the Hickory City Council. John was also a member of the Hickory Rotary Club. He believed in giving back to the community that was so generous to him and he gave all he could.

John was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he served in multiple ways including church council member and Sunday school teacher.

John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Celeste B. Watts; daughters: Kate Ashworth (Todd) and Beth Rogers (Matt); grandchildren: Watts and Ivey Rogers, Mackenzie and TJ Ashworth; sister, Mary Ellen Furkey (Pete) of Denville, NJ and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to George Danner, caregiver and friend to John.

A celebration of life will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 1 p.m. led by Pastors Christopher Webb, Hannah Norem and Robert Shoffner. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

The family would like to thank the staff of Carolina Caring for the extraordinary care and compassion shown in John's brief stay in their care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Foundation or Carolina Caring Foundation.