Claude Meacham Watson

Lansing Michigan

Passed away on August 26, 2013, following complications due to major surgery. Claude was born July 30, 1922 in Whitewater Township, Michigan, to Ben Adrian Watson and Mabelle Juliette Corey, on the family farm his great-grandfather Gervas Watson had settled in 1852. His family moved to Elk Rapids when he was five and he graduated from Elk Rapids High School in 1939.

Claude enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 7, 1941 and served through January 8, 1946. Trained in radio operation and maintenance, he spent most of the war in training bases. He was stationed with the 538th training squadron at Williams Field near Chandler, AZ when Pearl Harbor was bombed. On April 16, 1945, he left for China where he served with the 91st Fighter Squadron of the 81st Fighter Group, the only P-47 fighter squadron in the Flying Tigers.

While attending Michigan State College, he met Anne Sinclair Terry at Canterbury Club and the two married in June 1954. After completing his Masters degree in Physics in 1958, he was hired to teach physics and electronics at Lansing Community College in its second year of operation. He became interested in computers, transferred from the Science Dept. to the Math Dept., and ended his 35 year career as the Arts and Science Divisional Coordinator for Instructional Computing. When he retired at age 72, he was LCC’s senior employee.

Scouting was important to Claude. As a boy he became a Lone Scout, persuaded his dad to be a Scoutmaster, and eventually earned the rank of Life Scout. He was an active scoutmaster for 25 years with Troop 297 in Lansing, producing 26 Eagle Scouts, including his three sons. With his wife, he advised Explorer Post 297 for several years. Claude was awarded the Silver Beaver in recognition of his service.

He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, a Mason, a ham radio operator (W8JOO), a Spartan sports fan and enjoyed duplicate bridge, chess, sailing, music, genealogy, and his family. A very congenial soul, he kept his sense of humor until the end.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ben Gervas Watson; sister, Barbara Ann (Watson) Braun and brother-in-law Gilbert Louis Braun. He is survived by his wife Anne of 59 years; daughter Christine Watson; sons Claude (Julie) Watson, Gordon (Marianne) Watson, and Garth Watson; grandchildren, Nicole Curtin, Andrew Curtin, Connor Watson, Helen Watson, and Amelia Watson, along with several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Rd., East Lansing with the Rev. Katherine Ann Carlson officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. Graveside service will take place September 7, 11:00 a.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery, Elk Rapids, MI.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Claude Watson Scholarship Fund at Lansing Community College, PO Box 40010, Lansing, MI 48901 or http://www.lcc.edu/foundation/.