Louisa Nicholl Watson

Louisa Nicholl Watson, left this world on 28 January at the age of 99, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. Born Louisa Nicholl Poole on 11 April 1916 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she married Thomas Watson in May, 1940. As a young woman during WWII, she served in MI-5, British Intelligence, and volunteered as a fire watcher atop the Prudential Building in London during the entirety of the blitz and beyond, spotting bomb drops and radioing the information to the fire brigades. She lived with danger every day during the war. On one occasion, the windows of her flat were shot out by a German fighter aircraft, and she would often have to step around unexploded bombs on her way to work. It wasn't until she was 94 that her heroism was recognized by Buckingham Palace and Whitehall when she was awarded the British Defence Medal, but like so many of the "Greatest Generation", she and her husband, Tom, who served in the RAF in WWII, never spoke of their war experiences. After the war, Louisa and her husband returned to Belfast where she became a successful business woman, but later left that behind to emigrate to the United States to be close to her only daughter and grandchildren. In war, in business, and even late in life, Louisa was a risk taker. At the age of 91, well after most people that age have slowed down, Louisa surprised everyone by saying she wanted to take a ride on the back of a motorcycle; and she did. Louisa grew up in a Christian home, and after settling in to life in America became a fixture in the children’s Sunday School of Ephesus Baptist Church. A pastor who knew Louisa at that time remarked recently that “there is a number known only to God of the number of children who sat on her knee and learned about Him”, and no greater tribute could be given of anyone. Dementia finally ravaged her body and her mind, but her spirit, devotion, and strength live on. And now, once again young and whole and happy, she lives in eternity with her Savior, whom she loved and trusted.

Louisa was preceded in death by her parents and siblings - a brother and two sisters - and by her husband, who died in December 1978, shortly after they emigrated to the United States. She is survived by her daughter, Marguerite Wilms, and son-in-law Paul Wilms, both of Cary, NC, her grandson, Dr. Christopher Wilms, and his wife, Dr. Isca Wilms, great-granddaughter Sarah Wilms and great-grandson, Gabriel Wilms, all of Midlothian, VA; by her granddaughter Rebecca Myron and her husband, Rob Myron, by great-granddaughters, Brittany Myron, Abigail Myron, and Mary Myron, and great-grandsons, Robert Myron III, Thomas Myron, and Timothy Myron, all of Apex, NC.

A graveside service will be held at Ephesus Baptist Church cemetery, 6767 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, 1 February 2016.

The family requests no flowers, but donations in honor of Louisa may be made to Ephesus Baptist Church of Raleigh, NC (www.ephesusbaptistchurch.com).