WATSON

Charles LeRoy

June 19, 1925

August 29, 2020

Charles LeRoy Watson, 95, of Roanoke, Virginia, and Bristol, Tennessee, passed to another expression of life on Saturday, August 29, 2020.

He was born on June 19, 1925, in Abingdon, Virginia, to the late C. Dewey Watson and Annie Lee Tatum Watson, and was also preceded in death by his sister, Elsie Watson Bailey.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Ann Carrier Watson, and daughter, Marianna Melissa Watson-Cox and her husband, Gregory, of Roanoke, Virginia. Also surviving are nieces, Barbara Bailey of Bristol, Tennessee, and Anna Michael of Lexington, North Carolina.

Mr. Watson was a graduate of Wallace High School, Swarthmore Business College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and Steed College in Johnson City, Tennessee. He attended Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and King College after proudly serving his country in the United States Navy.

Mr. Watson served his country during World War II in the Amphibious Forces of the U.S. Navy and participated in the assault landings in the Invasion of France at Normandy and the Rhine River Crossings in Germany with the United States Army 9th Infantry Division.

He worked in the Corporate offices of Dupont in Wilmington, Delaware for several years and then Frank & Sons in Charlotte, North Carolina. He returned to the Bristol area and entered a 33-year career with Sperry Univac Unisys Corporation.

Mr. Watson was a long-time faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Bristol, Tennessee where he was active on various committees during his younger years.

A Letter From Marianna:

My Father, Charles LeRoy Watson, passed quietly to another expression of life on August 29, 2020.

We celebrate the 95 years he lived and worked among us. In my Father, I saw wisdom, strength, humility, and kindness of someone who had lived long and experienced much. Dad knew fulfilling work, life-long friendships, and an abiding connection with the Spirit. He also knew great depths of sorrow and despair.

My Father served his country proudly during World War II in the Amphibious Forces of the United States Navy and participated in the assault landings in the Invasion of France at Normandy and the Rhine River Crossings in Germany with the United States Army 9th Infantry Division.

Dad loved his country, his God, and his family. He knew that the spiritual journey, even with its joys and rewards, was not always easy. He was never afraid to ask difficult questions, to admit doubt, to recognize his human feelings of weakness and grief – all while holding firmly to his faith.

Dad was a quiet man who did not verbally or visibly show his feelings, but I always knew he loved me. When I was a child, he read the Bible and prayed with me at bedtime. He never wanted me to hurt or feel sad. He stressed to me to always help the less fortunate of the world. He provided well for me and was always there when I needed him. For all these things, I will always be grateful.

My Father has passed through the door and put on invisibility, but his work with God continues. We grieve, yet we celebrate the magnificent legacy of love he left to us.

A private entombment was held at Glenwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Bristol, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.oakeys.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Roanoke Times on Oct. 4, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Watson

Sponsored by Oakey’s South Chapel.

1 Entry

Delores (Roark) Still

October 6, 2020

Marianna, a most beautiful expression of LOVE appreciation of your father from his most loved daughter.

I didn't know you and your parents well but could and did observed the
tight bond of LOVE between the three
of you when I started working at H. P. King's back in the early to middle 60's
as well as up to a few years ago when
you would come in & I would see you and your mother out eating. I don't
think your father was able to go out
and about at that time or I am sure he
would had been right there as he was
during your growing up years.

Marianna, I could tell they LOVED you so very much and was so PROUD of
you and your accomplishments and
the LOVE and APPRECIATION that you
held in your heart for them shined thru your heart as well as theirs did
for you.

You were ALWAYS dressed so BEAUTIFULLY and I fell sure they saw
that you got the best of education and
feel sure you did your part and put in
the best of your time and effort & it wouldn't surprise me a bit that you wasn't an A or A+ student thru out all
of your school and college days.

I just want to tell you, young lady, from my side of observation of the three of you, you were very blessed that God choose Charles LeRoy and Martha Ann Watson to be your loving parents and selected you, Marianna Melissa Watson, to be their deserving, loving, beautiful (inward and outward), caring, compassion and faithful daughter to them and to God
as they would had taught you in bringing you up.

May God continue to ALWAYS bless you and yours as you travel this sorrowful path and may your heart
be filled with peace and abundance of joyful, precious memories as I feel sure you have.

Delores (Roark) Still
From: Bristol, VA/Tn.
Now: Bluff City, Tn.
(Beginning observing you and your parents as I mentioned back in the early 60's ('62-'67 while going to Va.
High School and V. I. College). You were just a little cute, shy child but as
you were growing up became very sweet and friendly just like your sweet and most friendly mother. I observed
your father as being a quiet person, very loving and proud of you and your mother. The image that I took on of him was like an executive (always saw him in an dress suite unless I be out on Holston Ave. and see him out mowing and your mother out in the yard working close by).