Benjamin Watson went to be with His Lord and Savior on August 12, 2016. He was a Lynden resident for 29 years. He had lived a good and long life; he was 94 years old.
Benjamin Watson was born in Rumford, Maine on May 25, 1922, to Benjamin Wilbur Watson (of the Gloucester Watsons) and Nellie Cyr MacDonald Watson (of Quebec, Canada). During his growing up years he lived in Kennebunk Lower Village, Maine. After moving to Florida as a boy, Ben joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 15, and worked developing the Highlands Hammock State Park.
In 1940 he joined the Army and during WWII was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 444th Bombardment Group, 677th Bombardment Squadron serving at Charra and Dudhkundi Airfields, India. Here he helped to ferry fuel and bombs across "The Hump" to Kwanghan Airfield in China. In the spring of 1945, the 677th was transferred to Tinian.
After the war Ben took a job with the Railroad Express Company in Miami. Upon the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Ben returned to the military as an engine mechanic for the Tactical Air Command. He also served his country in Korea.
He married Gladys B Jones on December 16, 1951.
In the 1960's, his USAF career sent his family to France as part of a NATO Deployment, Toul-Rosieres AFB; then, they were reassigned to the Third Air Force VIP Flight, RAF Northolt, England. Upon returning to the states to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben also served in Guam on B-52's that were supporting troops in Vietnam. Then he retired as a Senior Master Sargent. He is a 30-year military veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
For the next 15 years Ben worked in a quiet job for Homart, a division of Sears. In 1985, Ben retired from Homart and moved with Gladys to Western Washington.
Ben outlived most of his generation of friends and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys.
He is survived by his only child, Benjamin W. (Anne Marie) Watson; his grandchildren: William Watson, Sam (Aggie) Watson and Pamela Watson; and three great-grandchildren: Jordan MacLaurin, Arwen Watson and Caden MacLaurin. 'Uncle Bennie' will be missed by: nieces, Andrea Mueller and Gilda (Gordon) McCaw; and nephew, Burt (Shelley) Forsythe.
Ben was famous for his great story-telling of his life events and of the people he knew. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He demonstrated his love to his family by his devotion to duty, hard work and commitment. He was our rock and he will be missed.
Our family would like to thank Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, WA, for the love and care he received.
There will be a memorial service held on Monday, August 22, 2016, at 1230, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA., Pastor Jon Aldrich presiding.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
Benjamin Watson was born in Rumford, Maine on May 25, 1922, to Benjamin Wilbur Watson (of the Gloucester Watsons) and Nellie Cyr MacDonald Watson (of Quebec, Canada). During his growing up years he lived in Kennebunk Lower Village, Maine. After moving to Florida as a boy, Ben joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 15, and worked developing the Highlands Hammock State Park.
In 1940 he joined the Army and during WWII was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 444th Bombardment Group, 677th Bombardment Squadron serving at Charra and Dudhkundi Airfields, India. Here he helped to ferry fuel and bombs across "The Hump" to Kwanghan Airfield in China. In the spring of 1945, the 677th was transferred to Tinian.
After the war Ben took a job with the Railroad Express Company in Miami. Upon the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Ben returned to the military as an engine mechanic for the Tactical Air Command. He also served his country in Korea.
He married Gladys B Jones on December 16, 1951.
In the 1960's, his USAF career sent his family to France as part of a NATO Deployment, Toul-Rosieres AFB; then, they were reassigned to the Third Air Force VIP Flight, RAF Northolt, England. Upon returning to the states to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben also served in Guam on B-52's that were supporting troops in Vietnam. Then he retired as a Senior Master Sargent. He is a 30-year military veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
For the next 15 years Ben worked in a quiet job for Homart, a division of Sears. In 1985, Ben retired from Homart and moved with Gladys to Western Washington.
Ben outlived most of his generation of friends and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys.
He is survived by his only child, Benjamin W. (Anne Marie) Watson; his grandchildren: William Watson, Sam (Aggie) Watson and Pamela Watson; and three great-grandchildren: Jordan MacLaurin, Arwen Watson and Caden MacLaurin. 'Uncle Bennie' will be missed by: nieces, Andrea Mueller and Gilda (Gordon) McCaw; and nephew, Burt (Shelley) Forsythe.
Ben was famous for his great story-telling of his life events and of the people he knew. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He demonstrated his love to his family by his devotion to duty, hard work and commitment. He was our rock and he will be missed.
Our family would like to thank Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, WA, for the love and care he received.
There will be a memorial service held on Monday, August 22, 2016, at 1230, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA., Pastor Jon Aldrich presiding.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
Benjamin Watson went to be with His Lord and Savior on August 12, 2016. He was a Lynden resident for 29 years. He had lived a good and long life; he was 94 years old.
Benjamin Watson was born in Rumford, Maine on May 25, 1922, to Benjamin Wilbur Watson (of the Gloucester Watsons) and Nellie Cyr MacDonald Watson (of Quebec, Canada). During his growing up years he lived in Kennebunk Lower Village, Maine. After moving to Florida as a boy, Ben joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 15, and worked developing the Highlands Hammock State Park.
In 1940 he joined the Army and during WWII was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 444th Bombardment Group, 677th Bombardment Squadron serving at Charra and Dudhkundi Airfields, India. Here he helped to ferry fuel and bombs across "The Hump" to Kwanghan Airfield in China. In the spring of 1945, the 677th was transferred to Tinian.
After the war Ben took a job with the Railroad Express Company in Miami. Upon the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Ben returned to the military as an engine mechanic for the Tactical Air Command. He also served his country in Korea.
He married Gladys B Jones on December 16, 1951.
In the 1960's, his USAF career sent his family to France as part of a NATO Deployment, Toul-Rosieres AFB; then, they were reassigned to the Third Air Force VIP Flight, RAF Northolt, England. Upon returning to the states to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben also served in Guam on B-52's that were supporting troops in Vietnam. Then he retired as a Senior Master Sargent. He is a 30-year military veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
For the next 15 years Ben worked in a quiet job for Homart, a division of Sears. In 1985, Ben retired from Homart and moved with Gladys to Western Washington.
Ben outlived most of his generation of friends and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys.
He is survived by his only child, Benjamin W. (Anne Marie) Watson; his grandchildren: William Watson, Sam (Aggie) Watson and Pamela Watson; and three great-grandchildren: Jordan MacLaurin, Arwen Watson and Caden MacLaurin. 'Uncle Bennie' will be missed by: nieces, Andrea Mueller and Gilda (Gordon) McCaw; and nephew, Burt (Shelley) Forsythe.
Ben was famous for his great story-telling of his life events and of the people he knew. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He demonstrated his love to his family by his devotion to duty, hard work and commitment. He was our rock and he will be missed.
Our family would like to thank Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, WA, for the love and care he received.
There will be a memorial service held on Monday, August 22, 2016, at 1230, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA., Pastor Jon Aldrich presiding.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
Benjamin Watson was born in Rumford, Maine on May 25, 1922, to Benjamin Wilbur Watson (of the Gloucester Watsons) and Nellie Cyr MacDonald Watson (of Quebec, Canada). During his growing up years he lived in Kennebunk Lower Village, Maine. After moving to Florida as a boy, Ben joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 15, and worked developing the Highlands Hammock State Park.
In 1940 he joined the Army and during WWII was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 444th Bombardment Group, 677th Bombardment Squadron serving at Charra and Dudhkundi Airfields, India. Here he helped to ferry fuel and bombs across "The Hump" to Kwanghan Airfield in China. In the spring of 1945, the 677th was transferred to Tinian.
After the war Ben took a job with the Railroad Express Company in Miami. Upon the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Ben returned to the military as an engine mechanic for the Tactical Air Command. He also served his country in Korea.
He married Gladys B Jones on December 16, 1951.
In the 1960's, his USAF career sent his family to France as part of a NATO Deployment, Toul-Rosieres AFB; then, they were reassigned to the Third Air Force VIP Flight, RAF Northolt, England. Upon returning to the states to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben also served in Guam on B-52's that were supporting troops in Vietnam. Then he retired as a Senior Master Sargent. He is a 30-year military veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
For the next 15 years Ben worked in a quiet job for Homart, a division of Sears. In 1985, Ben retired from Homart and moved with Gladys to Western Washington.
Ben outlived most of his generation of friends and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys.
He is survived by his only child, Benjamin W. (Anne Marie) Watson; his grandchildren: William Watson, Sam (Aggie) Watson and Pamela Watson; and three great-grandchildren: Jordan MacLaurin, Arwen Watson and Caden MacLaurin. 'Uncle Bennie' will be missed by: nieces, Andrea Mueller and Gilda (Gordon) McCaw; and nephew, Burt (Shelley) Forsythe.
Ben was famous for his great story-telling of his life events and of the people he knew. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He demonstrated his love to his family by his devotion to duty, hard work and commitment. He was our rock and he will be missed.
Our family would like to thank Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, WA, for the love and care he received.
There will be a memorial service held on Monday, August 22, 2016, at 1230, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA., Pastor Jon Aldrich presiding.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
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