Robert
Robert Watson
d. July 29, 2012
ROBERT EUGENE WATSON, 92, passed away July 29, 2012. He was born on August 31, 1919 in Washington state, and resided there most of his life. Bob graduated from Washington State University in 1941 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served in WWII as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Force. He was a decorated airman, having earned an American Theater Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Purple Heart and a Silver Star. After his plane was severely disabled during a bombing raid over Japan, his crew was able to fly for eight hours and achieve a crash landing, thanks in large part to Bob's ability to control and resurrect the remaining fuel and engines, saving all men on board. The engines sputtered with their last drop of fuel right as the plane landed. Official records of the event state "[his] careful planning, exacting efficiency and superior professional skill reflect great credit on himself." He'd always been a problem-solver, exhibiting ingenuity and creative engineering even as a young boy. Those attributes served him well throughout his life. After his return from the war, Bob went to work for The Boeing Company in Seattle and retired as Chief of Structural Engineering in 1981.
In 1942 he married his college sweetheart Genevieve Van Driel and they remained married until her death in 1996.
To that marriage were born two children, daughter Judith Watson Waugh (William) of Prairie Village, KS and son Van Robert Watson (Colleen Bennett) of Seattle, WA. Other survivors include granddaughters and their husbands Erin Gorny (Steve) of Mission Hills, Kansas; Megan Bigbee (Daniel) of Sammamish, WA; and Kara Harmon (Andrew) of Mission Hills, KS. He was thrilled to welcome six great grandchildren: Elizabeth Lauren Gorny, William Kansas Bigbee, Katherine Lauren Bigbee, William Charles Harmon and Chloe Beatrice Harmon. Great-granddaughter Lauren Lambert Bigbee preceded him in death, as did his parents, three brothers and one sister. His surviving sisters-in-law are Dorothy Watson, Lorraine Watson and Iris Watson all of Seattle; Harold Hill, of Goldendale, WA is his surviving brother-in-law.
Bob was a humble and disciplined man who earned respect for his principled ways and work ethic. He will be remembered for his love of life, devotion to family, decency and kindness. He loved airplanes, baseball, and was a keen pool player. He was also a wonderful dancer, and the family cherishes the memory of him and Gen dancing at each grand-daughter's wedding.
Grandpa Bob will be missed more than we can express, his memory cherished and his life forever celebrated.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Mission Hills Country Club, 5400 Mission Drive, Mission Hills, KS. Memorial contributions will be gratefully appreciated at the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108, or at their website museumofflight.org.
In 1942 he married his college sweetheart Genevieve Van Driel and they remained married until her death in 1996.
To that marriage were born two children, daughter Judith Watson Waugh (William) of Prairie Village, KS and son Van Robert Watson (Colleen Bennett) of Seattle, WA. Other survivors include granddaughters and their husbands Erin Gorny (Steve) of Mission Hills, Kansas; Megan Bigbee (Daniel) of Sammamish, WA; and Kara Harmon (Andrew) of Mission Hills, KS. He was thrilled to welcome six great grandchildren: Elizabeth Lauren Gorny, William Kansas Bigbee, Katherine Lauren Bigbee, William Charles Harmon and Chloe Beatrice Harmon. Great-granddaughter Lauren Lambert Bigbee preceded him in death, as did his parents, three brothers and one sister. His surviving sisters-in-law are Dorothy Watson, Lorraine Watson and Iris Watson all of Seattle; Harold Hill, of Goldendale, WA is his surviving brother-in-law.
Bob was a humble and disciplined man who earned respect for his principled ways and work ethic. He will be remembered for his love of life, devotion to family, decency and kindness. He loved airplanes, baseball, and was a keen pool player. He was also a wonderful dancer, and the family cherishes the memory of him and Gen dancing at each grand-daughter's wedding.
Grandpa Bob will be missed more than we can express, his memory cherished and his life forever celebrated.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Mission Hills Country Club, 5400 Mission Drive, Mission Hills, KS. Memorial contributions will be gratefully appreciated at the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108, or at their website museumofflight.org.
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