Clifton Walter Watson

Clifton Walter Watson, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, died at his Forest Hill, Maryland home on March 19th, 2024. He had been on home hospice for over a year and was cared for by his loving wife of 58 years, Vivian, and a devoted group of caregivers.

Cliff, as he was known to his family and friends, was born on April 16th, 1941 in Colora, Maryland, the son of the late Bledsue George and Esther Haley Watson. He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their two daughters, Lisa (Vann) Prime of New Market, MD and Jennifer (Kenny) Hamilton of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by two siblings, Thomas (Barbara) Watson of Darlington, MD and Myrtle (Paul/deceased) Slade of Bel Air, MD, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren and lastly, his loving and constant companion, his dog Molly.

Cliff graduated from Bel Air High School in 1958 and attended the University of Baltimore, graduating in 1963. Following that, he had a 40 plus year career with the federal government in various managerial positions in the Human Relations Department at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Cliff was the first person in his family to graduate from a college. A story his daughters learned not long before he passed was that he forged his father's signature to get a loan for school and the board members at the local bank knew it was a forgery but gave it to him anyway, so that he could have a chance.

Outside of his family, golf was a passion that Cliff pursued for most of his adult life. He and Vivian were charter members of Winters Run Golf Club and traveled to the British Isles more than once to play on some of the world's most challenging courses. Cliff had six holes-in-one over the years.

Cliff attended Deer Creek United Methodist Church. He was a volunteer moderator with Harford County and performed six years with the Maryland National Guard.

Cliff was known for his dry wit and generosity of spirit. He was a wildly intelligent man who often read a book a day. He would buy pies to give as gifts to friends, or he would take them some of his home grilled venison. He gave all of his grandchildren rides on his John Deere mower when they were little.

A private ceremony for immediate family and close friends was held at Cliff and Vivian's home on Easter Sunday Morning.