William Richard "Billy" Watson

1923 - 2022

Well-known Colville man passes away at 98

On Thursday evening, the 17th of February 2022, William Richard Watson, known to all his friends and family as Bill or Billy, passed away from natural causes at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was 98 years young.

Born on Christmas Day, 1923, to Coy and Golda Watson of Los Angeles, he was the sixth of nine children. Like the rest of his siblings and his father, he worked frequently in the budding film industry. The Watsons appeared in hundreds of films (The Watson Family is the only entire family with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame) with Billy having numerous roles, appearing with the likes of Jimmy Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Will Rogers and Spencer Tracy. During World War II, like three of his brothers, he served honorably in the United States Coast Guard. Following the war he became a highly successful commercial photographer in the Los Angeles area. During this time he fed his desire to continue acting by taking on various TV roles and performing in community theater groups. Bill and his wife, Sue, moved to Kettle Falls in 1990 and then to Colville in 1995. He was active in Woodland Productions' shows and sang in the choir at Colville United Methodist Church.

He married his beloved wife, Sue, in 1946, and she remained devotedly at his side until her death in 2008. Billy is survived by his children, Bill and his wife Susan, of Eagle Point, OR, Dennis and his wife Jane, of San Diego, CA, Colleen, of Colville, WA, Rod, of Spokane, WA, ten grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and his last surviving sibling, his 93 year old brother, Garry Watson of Burbank, CA.

He was loving and kind; he could light up a crowded room with his laughter and exuberance. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

No memorial service is scheduled at this time. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his honor can do so through the Salvation Army.