James Ralph Watts

BRANDENBURG WATTS, JAMES RALPH , died Tuesday, December 27, 2005, at home. He was born May 7, 1917, at Muldraugh, KY, one of eight children of William S. and Katherine Perry Watts. He was a graduate of the Jefferson School of Law, later the University of Louisville College of Law, and a practicing attorney in Meade County for 61 years. He served as Meade County Attorney for 36 years and Trial Commissioner for 17 years. He was an Honorary member of the Kentucky Bar Association. He was a US Army veteran of World War II. Volunteering a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he served as an agent in the Judge Adjutant General division with a four-year tour in the China-Burma-India theatre. He helped organize and served as the first commander of the local VFW post. He was a 58 year member of the American Legion. He was the attorney for the Meade County Rural electric Cooperative for 51 years. As an ardent Democrat, he was involved in local and state politics and served as Meade County campaign Chairman for several Congressmen and governors. As a member of First Baptist church in Brandenburg, he served as deacon, moderator and teacher for many years. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Wilson Watts; three daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela (Bill) Watts Corum, Rebecca (Sim) Watts Richardson, of Brandenburg, and Cynthia (Michael) Watts Green of Louisville; eight grandchildren, Dr. Lisa (Glen) Corum Buckner of Fort Mill, SC, Jim J. (Rachel) Corum of Brentwood, TN, Rhoda (Heath) Richardson Hoppes of San Diego, CA, Joseph (Katie) Watts Greene, Wilson Watts Greene, Sara Watts Greene, Daniel Watts Greene of Louisville, and Perry Benjamin Richardson of Brandenburg; two great-grandchildren, Simon Corum Buckner and Will Medley Corum; three sisters, Irma Hoffman of Ekron, KY, Janet Hawkins of Louisville, and Betty Wilson of Muldraugh. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at First Baptist Church in Brandenburg, with Dr. Billy D. Marcum officiating. Burial to follow in Cap Anderson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2005, and from 9-11 a.m. on Friday at Bruington-Jenkins-Sturgeon Funeral Home in Brandenburg. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942 or to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 338 High St, Brandenburg, KY 40108.