Roy Henry Watson

Roy Watson, 94, passed away on October 10, 2016 at his Lakewood home. Born in Denver February 27, 1922, Roy dreamed of becoming a graphic artist before he was a teenager. He learned hand lettering at the Artcraft Sign Company when he was 14. As a graduate of Manual Training High School in 1940, his favorite school memory was of designing and painting the 8 foot tall, 16 foot wide posters for the Manual School Dances. These posters hung from the large stairwell between the first and second floors at Manual High.

With the help of his high school art teacher, Roy was awarded a scholarship by the American Association of University Women to study a year and a half at the Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs. After Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy, went to gunnery school and served on three different ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He took part in landings on the Marshall Islands and Guam. While his last ship was loading at the 9th Avenue Pier in Oakland, California, Roy met Lena, the love of his life. They corresponded until the war was over. Lena came to Denver on January 1, 1946 and they were married on January 13.

Roy returned home to work at the advertisement agency of Rippey, Henderson, Kostka & Co., working there for 19 years before starting his own company, Watson Ad Art. Roy formally retired from advertising in 1990 at the age of 68. He continued making greeting and birthday cards for close friends and relatives, still needing an outlet for his creativity and unique sense of humor.

Lena and Roy built a home together in Lakewood, Colorado. They raised four children (Robert, Patricia, Rosetta and Penny), nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Roy Watson lived his dream for 62 years with his wife who was his “right hand” – Roy was left handed. Lena did the bookkeeping, typesetting, billing and most of all, proofreading. As he put it, “I never had to solicit work, and with Lena’s help, I stayed happy doing what I enjoyed most.”

Roy will be laid to rest with his beloved wife, Lena, at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Following his wishes, private services will be held. The family will host a reception on Monday Oct. 24 at 1:00pm at the Lakewood home.