John "Ralph" Watson
John "Ralph" Watson, 87, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 2, 2007, at Mission Hospital in Asheville after several years of declining health.
He was born on Dec. 23, 1919, in the Dysartsville Community of Burke County and was the son of John Baxter Watson and Martha Alice Deaton Mode Watson.
He attended Glen Alpine schools but had to leave school before he graduated to help his family on the farm. It was his dream to finish school. At 50, he achieved that dream and graduated from Western Piedmont Community College with his high school diploma.
He worked for the Henredon Furniture Company and retired from the Home Security Life Insurance Company. After his retirement, he continued to work for many years as a school bus driver for the Burke County School System.
He was a life long member of the Methodist faith and was a member of Snow Hill United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lillian Watson; his half-sister, Willie Eva Mode Lewis; and his son-in-law, Thomas "Tommie" Carl Anderson Jr.
He was a devoted husband to his wife of 61 years, Grace Irene Benfield Watson, who survives him in death. He is also survived by his four daughters, Linda Gail Watson Anderson, Wilma Diann Watson Head and her husband, Kenneth W., Thelma Jean Watson, and her companion, Woodrow F. Carson, Vicki Gay Watson Clarke Brittain and her husband, Wayne, all of Morganton; his grandchildren, Terri-Lynn Anderson Deyton Bourne, Christy Leanne Anderson, Kelley Kathryn Butler, John Russell Clarke and his wife, Dana, all of Morganton, Kevin Dwayne Head of Hampstead, Jodi Carole Anderson of Cramerton, Teresa Diann Head Treadway and her husband, Tim, of Valdese; his great-grandchildren, Brandon Ray Deyton, Bradley Anderson Deyton, and Sarah Kathryn Deyton, of Morganton, Katelyn Hope White and Mackenzie René White of Cramerton, Tayler Maree Treadway and Tyanna "Chase" Treadway of Valdese; and his faithful and loving canine companion, Bob.
Daughter: Thelma Jean Watson
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Revs. Sidney Houk, David Duncan, J.D. Mallory and Donald Farris officiating.
Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence, 4036 Dysartsville Road, Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 28052-9813. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff of the DaVita Dialysis Center, Marion, for their gentle, loving care and devotion to their husband, father and grandfather.
John "Ralph" Watson
John "Ralph" Watson, 87, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 2, 2007, at Mission Hospital in Asheville after several years of declining health.
He was born on Dec. 23, 1919, in the Dysartsville Community of Burke County and was the son of John Baxter Watson and Martha Alice Deaton Mode Watson.
He attended Glen Alpine schools but had to leave school before he graduated to help his family on the farm. It was his dream to finish school. At 50, he achieved that dream and graduated from Western Piedmont Community College with his high school diploma.
He worked for the Henredon Furniture Company and retired from the Home Security Life Insurance Company. After his retirement, he continued to work for many years as a school bus driver for the Burke County School System.
He was a life long member of the Methodist faith and was a member of Snow Hill United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lillian Watson; his half-sister, Willie Eva Mode Lewis; and his son-in-law, Thomas "Tommie" Carl Anderson Jr.
He was a devoted husband to his wife of 61 years, Grace Irene Benfield Watson, who survives him in death. He is also survived by his four daughters, Linda Gail Watson Anderson, Wilma Diann Watson Head and her husband, Kenneth W., Thelma Jean Watson, and her companion, Woodrow F. Carson, Vicki Gay Watson Clarke Brittain and her husband, Wayne, all of Morganton; his grandchildren, Terri-Lynn Anderson Deyton Bourne, Christy Leanne Anderson, Kelley Kathryn Butler, John Russell Clarke and his wife, Dana, all of Morganton, Kevin Dwayne Head of Hampstead, Jodi Carole Anderson of Cramerton, Teresa Diann Head Treadway and her husband, Tim, of Valdese; his great-grandchildren, Brandon Ray Deyton, Bradley Anderson Deyton, and Sarah Kathryn Deyton, of Morganton, Katelyn Hope White and Mackenzie René White of Cramerton, Tayler Maree Treadway and Tyanna "Chase" Treadway of Valdese; and his faithful and loving canine companion, Bob.
Daughter: Thelma Jean Watson
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Revs. Sidney Houk, David Duncan, J.D. Mallory and Donald Farris officiating.
Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence, 4036 Dysartsville Road, Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 28052-9813. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff of the DaVita Dialysis Center, Marion, for their gentle, loving care and devotion to their husband, father and grandfather.
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