Richard Charles Watson

BULLARD — Richard Charles Watson “Dick” passed away at home on March 6, 2024 with his wife, son and daughter and support from Enhabit Hospice and his doctors in the UT East Texas Health System.

Dick celebrated his 65th anniversary with his wife Cindy on June 14, 2023. He is survived by his wife Cynthia Rebecca Kimber Watson and their two children and their spouses, Julia Lynne Watson Weeks and her husband Dr. Allen Wesley Weeks and Scott Charles Watson and his wife Michelle Darlene Glidewell Watson. Dick loved his four grandchildren McKenna Elizabeth Watson Philipp and her husband Wallace Benjamin Philipp, Joshua Rodgers Watson, Ashley Grace Weeks and Ryan Wesley Weeks. He is also survived by two of his sisters Doris Ann Watson Napier and Jean Elizabeth Watson Smith. His parents Harry Glen Watson and Elizabeth Ann Dolezal Watson and his older sister Constance (Connie) May Watson Hannah have preceded him in death.

Dick was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 30, 1932. He attended Bay Elementary, Bay Middle and graduated from Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio in 1950. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Navy from December 7, 1951 to December 7, 1955. He served on the U.S.S. Lipan ATF-95 in the South Pacific during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserves on December 5, 1959.

After his active military service, he met and married Cynthia R. Kimber on June 14, 1958 in Cleveland, OH and benefited from the GI Bill to attend college. He attended Bowling Green State University, Case University and graduated from Ohio Northern State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree in 1960. He also studied civil engineering at Cleveland State University. He was licensed mechanical engineer in the states of Ohio and Texas.

After graduating from Ohio Northern State University, he was hired by the Bailey Meter Company in Cleveland, OH as a tool and machine design engineer. He then went to work for Inland Steel Container Company to made 30 and 55 gallon drums at their plants in Cleveland, OH and later in Chicago, IL. An ex-co-worker then invited him to be the plant manager at RangeAire Corporation in West, TX. He later moved his family from Waco, TX to Houston, TX to work for Southline Metal Products Company as plant engineer. In 1976, he and his wife decided to scratch his “entrepreneurial itch” by starting Watson Engineering and Machine Company to provide engineering and precision machine shop services in the “oil patch”. They sold the family business, retired and moved to Emerald Bay near Tyler, TX in 2000.

Dick has always lived on or near the water. He inspired a “love for the water” in his children and grandchildren through his many boats, water skiing, tubing, wake boarding activities, swim platform with a kiddie slide and sandbox on the beach. Their Lake Palestine home has been a blessing where family and friends gather and spend time together.

Dick had amazing mechanical aptitudes. His children used to say “My father can fix anything” and he was often helping people with various fix-it projects. As Chair of the Emerald Bay Engineering Committee, he oversaw many projects. He was a member of the Lone Star Tractor and Engine Club and rebuilt antique “Hit and Miss” engines. He enjoyed exhibiting and running his rebuilt antique corn griding and ice cream making engines at East Texas Tractor Shows. He lived to be almost 92 years old by playing golf every week with the Emerald Bay Golden Tees and working out at the gym three times a week.

Dick and Cindy have been members of Union Church in Chicago, IL; Plymouth U.C.C. and Northwoods Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX; Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, TX and currently worship online at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX.

Dick was a strong believer in the power of education. Charitable donations may be made to Austin Voices for Education and Youth, a 501c(3) education non-profit to support the work of his daughter and son-in-law with low-income public schools in Austin, TX. Austin Voices is a mission partner of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX. https://www.austinvoices.org/

Family and friends are invited to an outside memorial service on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in their backyard and gazebo at 111 Lakeshore Dr., Bullard, TX 75757. The service will be performed by Rev. Meg G. Taylor and a patio reception will follow. Guests are invited to drive their golf cart and bring lawn chairs, golf clubs and “range balls”.