Bradley Clark Watson

Bradley Clark Watson, was born February 14, 1950, in Grandview Hospital, Dayton, Ohio went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 3, 2026 in Pataskala, Ohio. Bradley was born to Vernon Carl Watson and Helen Louise Clark Watson.

He and his sister Jenny grew up in Crystal Lakes, Medway, Ohio (with a few earlier years in West Carrolton, Ohio). They grew up in a log house on the lake – able to swim, boat, and canoe all summer and skate all winter. Bradley attended Medway Elementary School, Oscar T. Hawke and Olive Branch Middle Schools, and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1968 where he was a National Merit Scholar. He attended and received degrees from Sinclair Community College (Associates of Science 1970), University of Dayton (Bachelor of Arts 1972), George Peabody College for Teachers (Now Vanderbilt University, Masters of Library Science 1974), Wright State University (Masters in Computer Science 1981), The Ohio State University (Master’s Degree and PhD in English Literary Theory 1997, his dissertation a computer program to parse English.) and Nova Southeastern University (Master’s Degree in Computer Science in 2023 and all but dissertation in a PhD in computer Science).

Early in his career, Bradley worked for the University of Dayton Library, Knights Inn, L&K Motels, La Quinta Inns. While Bradley did not serve in the military, he served his country honorably as a Civil Servant in the Air Force Logistics Command, Foreign Military Sales after he was trained by the Air Force as a computer programmer. While working here, he met his first wife, Alice who sadly, died young from cancer after they moved to Columbus Ohio. Later Bradley worked for Mead Data Central where he was Lead Programmer and National Cash Register (NCR). Bradley worked for two organizations he felt outwardly promoted excellence, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) as a research scientist where he worked when he met his heart-mate, Yvonne and his two boys, Kurt and Derek Kristopher, and Franklin University, where he worked for 28 plus years, many as Professor and Chair of the Information Systems Program. Bradley felt these organizations struggled to extend the same excellence, care and competence inwardly to their staff, an opinion shared by others. Bradley was beloved by his colleagues at Franklin and especially by his students, even winning Professor of the Year, a huge honor and accomplishment, but a win he saw derided by management. Bradley loved being an instructor and over his career, was also an adjunct at many Universities and helped teach reading to students as a volunteer in the Dublin City School System.

Bradley was an inactive member of Berean Bible Church but lived true principles of a Christ-like life, every day. Bradley was an accomplished swimmer, ice skater and roller blade enthusiast. He remained physically active throughout his life, exercising and weightlifting until his illness overcame his ability to continue. At 74 years old he could still squat all the way to the floor in the middle of a room and stand up without help. As a youth, Bradley was a member of the CLPOA-sponsored Boy Scouts and attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree several times as a teen and received the Order of the Arrow. One year he attended the World’s Fair in New York City with the Scouts.

Bradley’s motto was that of Isaac Asimov - “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Bradley loved Psalm 23 and the Hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” Bradley loved all the words of Jesus Christ and he lived them intentionally. Bradley loved it when his wife Yvonne sang to him, especially the folk song Homeward Bound by Marta Keen. Bradley was a gentle, kind, selfless, generous soul who loved Bob Dylan, Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, Paranormal Investigating, Sponge Bob, Science Fiction, helping others, taking care of everyone, especially those who needed shelter under his wing, and most of all his friends and family, for whom he always showed up, and he loved them thoroughly and completely. When Bradley loved you, you knew it and you felt completely surrounded by his love and protected. His Sister-in-law once said you could measure the amount of love he had for his wife Yvonne by the sheer number of times he said “Yes, dear” to her in a day, even when he was tired. His loud sneezes were worthy of horror movie jump scare status, sending everyone in earshot three feet into the air. When he was wanting to hug someone, he would throw his hands high into the air, spread his fingers wide and wiggle them, inviting you into his giant warm, inviting, and protective embrace. Bradley never knew a stranger and had a way of talking to people that made them immediately feel he was their best friend. He loved his boys deeply, their partners unconditionally, and his grandkids were the light in his eyes. He never smiled more deeply than when someone gave him items that said things Iike, “My favorite people call me Papaw.” He loved his nieces and nephews like they were his own kids, even when he didn’t see them often, he always wondered aloud how they were. He truly loved people, welcomed the stranger, and even let many folks, related and unrelated, live with his family. He loved to travel and traveled far and wide across the country and the world, with his wife Yvonne, his kids and his grandchildren. He loved Dr. Who, Disney World, roller coasters, weird ramen noodle concoctions, hot dogs, strange drink concoctions, ice cream and double-chocolate shakes. He loved Christmas and doing Papaw gifts for everyone. He was a romantic and gave the best gifts you never knew you needed. Bradley was the best kind of handsome and smart. A brilliant man who never knew how physically pretty he was and how beautiful he was on the inside.

The whole world will miss his friendship, his friends and family will miss him dropping slightly sarcastic jokes and walking away with a big smile on his face, while they all wondered “Did he actually just say that?” and his family will miss everything about him because he demonstrated his love for them every day. Everything he did was for them. Yvonne will miss him hard because he was the love of her life, her soulmate, her protector, her champion and her best friend. She knows how lucky and privileged she was to have him.

Bradley’s family wants to thank the many people who visited and called during his illness and the aftermath of it, but they especially want to thank Bradley’s best friend of 63 years Clark Powell and his wife Heidi VandeKemp for all the care they provided, the sleepless nights they endured, the relief they gave, the short notice travel, the pinch hitting, their support and their truly remarkable love for Bradley and all of us.

Bradley is preceded in death by his first wife Alice Handley Watson, His Mother Helen Louise Clark Watson, His father Vernon Carl Watson, an unborn sibling, His Father-in- law Charles and his wife Jean, and several Aunts and Uncles.

Bradley is survived by his much beloved wife Yvonne Marie Watson (Skinner), his Sons and their partners, Kurt Emmanuel Watson-Weeks (Heather) and Derek Kristopher Weeks (Demetra); His Grandchildren, Jason Fischer, Taylor Bowen, Bobee Bowen, Charles Weeks, Dane Bowen and Cynthia Weeks; His sister Jennifer Watson and her son Skylar; His Mother and Father-in law Frances and John Rude; Brother and Sister-In- Laws, Roberts Skinner (his daughter Brekka and her partner); Caroline (Buffy) Skinner (her children Kara, Kristjan, David and Olivia and their partners); Mary Skinner (her children Kristina and Korey and their partners); Keith (Wanda) Fairchild (their children Jessica, Rachel, Gary and Seth); Charles Fairchild (Janie) (their children Kayla and Andrew); Cheryl Smith (Bill) (their children Randall and Erica) and a multitude of other family and friends – all of whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation at cholangiocarcinoma.org