Col. John Thomas Watson

Born in North Carrollton, Miss., on Jan. 2, 1931, to Rev. Jesse F. Watson and home economics teacher Eva Sanders Watson, John grew up in New Mexico. There he spent countless hours watching planes in the skies overhead and collecting airplane trading cards. He entered pilot training with the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1954, the same year he met his wife, Carolyn Eugene Kirk, while in California. They soon married before starting his first assignment in Alaska and a 25-year career and lifelong partnership in the Air Force, where they shared their love of travel with their three daughters, Catherine, Karen, and Connie.

John earned his wings in 1956 and a master's degree in electrical engineering from SMU in 1961. His assignments included serving as an Officer Training School instructor at Lackland AFB, as well as flying test support missions in T-33, B-57, T-29 and C-131 aircraft at Eglin AFB. While at Ramstein AFB, he flew RF-101 and RF-4C aircraft before moving to the Inspector General's Office in Wiesbaden, where he was responsible for planning and conducting exercises of USAF tactical and air defense units throughout Europe. In Vietnam, he served as reconnaissance and staff liaison officer and flew 83 combat missions in the U-3B.

In his final years in the Air Force, John served as executive officer of the squadron and then chief of the wing command post at Mountain Home AFB. At Shaw AFB, he was flight commander and operations officer before moving to California, where he worked as part of the Space and Missile Systems Organization. In 1976, he transferred to his last assignment at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where he was commander of the Manned Flight Support Group.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1980, John worked 13 years in the space industry, including as vice president for the aerospace consulting company Eagle Engineering. In addition to his military service, John's many community contributions included service as president of the Johnson Space Center Rotary Club and participating in the creation of a community library in Medina, Texas, where he and Carolyn had retired in the country prior to moving to Air Force Village II.

He passed in skilled nursing due to complications from exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; three daughters: Catherine Watson Morgan, Karen Marie Watson, and Connie Watson Bowers; and four grandchildren: Chris and Alex Bowers, and John and Adam Morgan.

A military service with honors organized with Porter Loring Mortuary North was held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.