Arville James Watts

September 22, 1917 – May 5, 2011

Arville Watts passed away May 5, 2011 at the Mantey Heights Care Center after a sudden illness, he was 93.

Arvill was born on September 22, 1917 in Desden, TN from the union of Budd and Emilie Jane (McBee) Watts. He spent his childhood in the Desden TN area and later joined the United States Army Air Core in June of 1942. In 1943 he married Goldie Rogers and they later divorced. He was honorable discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1945 and began working in the lumber industry from 1947, retiring as a manager of a lumber yard in 1981.

In 1971 he moved to Rifle, CO working for a lumber mill for 10 years and it was at this time that he met and married Violet Merrell and the family moved to Grand Junction in 1981, Violet preceded Arville in death on October 8, 2002 in Grand Junction. In 2004 he met Ione Fuller at the Commons Assisted Living Center and they married there soon after.

Arville was a High Priest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church and a long time member of both the Grand Junction and Rifle Rotary Club.

Arville loved to dance, or some would say, stand there and shake. He enjoyed outdoor activities like fishing and camping, horse riding and honing his gardening skills. Many memorable times were spent with family and friends, especially a 90th birthday trip to see his favorite baseball team, the Rockies, who present Arville with many gifts for being a longtime dedicated fan.

Arville leaves behind his wife Ione, two sons; Karl (Sylvia) Watts of Unaweep Canyon, Rick (Claudia) Watts of West Jordan, UT, two sisters; Sylvia Ingram of Jackson, TN and Irene Webb of Union City, TN, ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, May 13, 2011 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3rd Ward, 543 Melody Lane, Grand Junction, CO. A viewing time will be held on Friday from 9-10:00 AM at the Church, prior to services.