John Wesley Watts

CHAPIN - John Wesley Watts, 94, of Chapin, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. Born in Cross Hill, South Carolina to John Henry Watts and Zora Lee Hilley, he lived most of his life in North and South Carolina. John, also affectionately known as “Pops” to his grandchildren, was a Veteran in both World War II and the Korean War. Between wars, John attended and graduated the Central Radio and Technical School in Kansas City, MO. He left the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Signal Corps as a Radio Intelligence Officer. John also worked as a radio engineer with WIS Radio in Columbia, SC. He later went to work with Bell Laboratories, Inc. During which time, he was given the opportunity to work as an engineer on one of the first “picture phones.” He retired from Bell Laboratories, Inc. in 1983.

John is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Hazel “Toby” Watts, with whom he has shared a love of vegetable gardening and Big Band music among other things. He is also survived by his two daughters, Katherine Watts Bullock, of Chapin, SC and Julie Watts Pastelak and her husband, Chris, of Columbia, SC; two granddaughters, Ryleigh Elizabeth Bullock and Skylar Frances Bullock, of Chapin, SC; two sisters, Ruth Watts Harris, of Greenwood, SC and Betty Watts Allen of Ruskin, FL; four step-children, Frank Doby of Chapin, SC, Tony Doby and his wife Debbie of Liberty, NC; Paula Faler and her husband Warren of Garden City, CA; Vickie Christopher of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Linda Sheppard of Banner Elk, NC; as well as many other loving family members and friends. Predeceasing John, were his parents, John Henry Watts and Zora Lee Hilley, of Greenwood, SC and two sisters Marie Watts Beneteau of Martinez, GA and Elizabeth “Lib” Watts Perry, of Augusta, GA.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 9, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Chapin United Methodist Church, 415 Lexington Avenue, Chapin, SC 29036 with Pastor Jody Flowers and Paul Allen, Minister of Congregational Care officiating. The family will receive friends after the service from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at 1308 Silver Point Road, Chapin, SC 29036. Memorials may be made to Chapin United Methodist Church Building Fund, 415 Lexington Ave., Chapin, SC 29036 or Palmetto Health Foundation (Hospice Care), 1600 Marion St., Columbia, SC 29201.