Ben Tillman Watson Jr.'s Obituary
Born August 26, 1923 in Waycross, North Carolina. He passed away on August 11, 2015. He was preceded in death by his daughter Edanna Reagor, his brothers Robert and Ritchie and sister Sarah. He was survived by his wife Thelma Mae Watson, his son Ben Watson III and his wife Carol. Also his son-in law Doug Reagor, his sons Bart, his wife Annette, their 3 children Ryan, Riley and Rachel ( his great grandchildren) and Brion. Alsd survived by his sister, Frances Cording. My father joined the Navy at the age of 17 to fight for his country along with his two brothers to follow. He was a radioman on the Aircraft Carrier The USS Hornet C-V8. The Hornet was in the battle for Midway and then chosen to be the flight deck for Dolittle’s Raid on Japan. After this his the Hornet was also in the battle for Santa Cruz at which time the were sunk by the Japanese. When he was directed to abandon ship he jumped from the radio station into the Pacific. After an hour he was then picked and served with the Marines opening up communication stations across in the Islands. This lasted a year and a half and then finally received his survivor’s leave to go home to Carolina to see his family. During the time in the service we moved to several locations connected to his Naval assignments. When he would go overseas for a month or more my mother, my sister Edanna and I would spend this time in Wallace, North Carolina with his parents Ben Sr. ( Papa) and Sarah ( Granny). After 22 years of service he retired from the Navy in 1962 as a Chief Warrant Officer the highest rank for a enlisted man. We then moved from Norfolk, VA. to Richardson, Texas where he took a position as an electronic engineer at Continental Electronics in Dallas. He went from this position to become the Senior Vice President. A remarkable achievement for a young man that never finished high school. He was brilliant mathematician and investor who provided for his family and other family members that needed any help. As a father he taught me to be kind and to look after your family and friends. Over the last ten years I moved my art studio into a room in his home to be there for whatever they needed. My father insisted on taking care of my mother when she was diagnosed with dementia. He always said as long as he was able he would look after her. Great love and devotion like he always gave to us all. I did any chores he needed from picking up groceries to standing on his latter with a chain saw to removed limbs that might affect his and my mothers home. My wife Carol was always there and big help when the family needed her. At Christmas she would help with all matters to prepare the house and food for the celebration. Over the last few years I noticed his slowing down. He wasn’t mowing his lawn as often but loved doing it. I think that was his therapy. When he got phenomena the family stood by his side for 4 months hoping to bring him back to full strength. On August 28 he passed at 9 PM and left our world to join the family and friends that went before him. He was indeed a great Naval Officer, a devoted father and a dedicated father. As they would say in the Navy ‘Sail on Sailor’ and know that we are the ones who were blessed with you in our lives. His family will receive friends and family at his memorial August 28 at 3PM at the Wildwood Chapel on the grounds of Restland Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243 at Restland Road.
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