Gerald “Jerry” Watson

Gerald Thomas Watson, Loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather-Passed away peacefully, on December 14, 2025, in his home, surrounded by love, with Teresa and Joe by his side. He was 92

Gerald was born March 23,1933, in Sioux City, Iowa to Margret Maude Watson-Lee and Gilbert Banta Watson. Gerald- known as "Jerry" to family and friends-was a very loving and caring person, full of life and spunk. He grew up in Mapleton, Iowa where he quickly earned a reputation as a bit of a rascal, Huckleberry Finn-style. Stories from his youth include sleeping out on the porch during winter snowstorms, building a raft and taking it down the river and mischievously ringing the church bells off- schedule-early signs of the humor and spirit that stayed with him all his life.

Jerry attended Morningside college, where he played football, before joining the United States Navy in 1950. He served as a corpsman aboard the USS Orleck, a destroyer on which he took great pride. In 1952, while serving in the Koran War he met and married the love of his life, Roberta "Bobby" Green.

In the early 1960's they settled in Bakersfield, California where they raised their two daughters: Valerie and Teresa. Gerald and Roberta's marriage spanned seventy-two incredible years.

Jerry worked in the Laboratory at San Joaquin Hospital and later Memorial Hospital. Together, Jerry and Bobbie opened Watson's Strip Shop, a successful antique furniture business where they refinish and sold treasured pieces. After Jerry's retirement from Memorial Hospital, he continued working at the shop allowing his passion of woodworking to shine through.

Watson's Strip Shop was open for over thirty years until Jerry and Bobbie decided to retire to the Texas Hill Country. In 2010 they moved to Boerne, Texas, where they built their dream home. Jerry especially loved gardening and spending quiet hours on his patio, taking in the views they had created together.

To his grandchildren, Jerry will be remembered for his wonderful stories, his silly Donald Duck voice, afternoons spent swimming, and the joy of holiday morning phone calls. His warmth, humor, and love of family left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

Jerry lived a full and meaningful life marked by service, love, hard work, laughter and devotion to family. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Roberta Watson, his daughter Valerie Stevenson, His sister Wanda Grage, and his parents.

He is Survived by his daughter Teresa (Joe) Johnson; son-in-law Gary Stevenson; grandchildren Adam Johnson. Ian Johnson, Russell Brown, Jason Brown, Bobby Brown, Stephanie Rodriguez and Myrikal Stevenson; and many great-grandchildren