Warren Watson, 87 of Fort Smith passed away Wednesday, September 26, 2012. He was born May 3, 1925 in Branch, AR to the late Frankie Avis Warren Watson and Hugh Leroy Watson. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a retired truck driver from Rheem Manufacturing. He graduated from Branch High School in 1943. After graduation he began a milk hauling business with his father. He moved to Ft. Smith in 1946 and worked for Crouch Equipment. In 1948 he went to work as a driver for The Automotive that later became the MPW in 1973. In 1974 he began driving for Rheem and retired in 1990 although he continued to work part-time for many years. Warren was an exceptionally careful driver and was named the 1985 Arkansas Driver of the Year by the Arkansas Council of Safety Supervisors for having driven more than 3.4 million miles without an accident. At the time of his retirement Warren had driven about 4 million miles without an accident. When asked what about his life made him the most proud, he replied “My Family”.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, September 29th at St. Boniface Catholic Church with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.
Warren is survived by his wife of 62 years Marian Watson of the home; five children; Larry Watson of Tulsa, OK, Sharon Ginger and her husband Bill of Ft. Smith, Jim Watson and his wife Jane Estep of Barling, Margaret Sexton and her husband John P. of Fayetteville, and Lee Watson and his wife Kathy Poppe of Ft. Smith; 11 grandchildren: Shauna M. Ginger of Portland, OR, Malia J. Putman of Van Buren, Capt. William J. Ginger of Enid, OK, Jessica L. Ginger of Boston, MA, Andrew John Sexton of Fayetteville, Benjamin Patrick Sexton of Fayetteville, Keith Joseph Sexton of Little Rock, Travis James Watson of Ft. Smith, Tracy Ryan Watson of Conway, Zane Robert Watson of Ft. Smith, and Pierce David Watson of Ft. Smith. He is also survived by two great grandchildren: Skyler Putman and Jayden Putman and his sister Lola Dill and her husband Oran of Garland, TX.
Pallbearers will be his son-in-laws: Bill Ginger, John P. Sexton, his grandsons: Capt. William J. Ginger, Andrew J. Sexton, Benjamin P. Sexton, Travis J. Watson, Keith J. Sexton, and Tracy Watson.
Honorary Pallbearers are Harold Stewart, Paul Gilliaum, Harold Bateman, Lindell Oliver, Jim Lincks, Jerry Parnell, James Ginn, Larry White, Fred Trobaugh, Don Justice, Buck M.E. English, Ben Brown, Eddie Wilson, Dennis Cole and the many other drivers who were his friends.
Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Friday, September 28th at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to Donald W. Reynold’s Cancer Support House 3324 South “M” Street Ft. Smith, AR 72903, Peachtree Hospice 2910 Jenny Lind #4 Ft. Smith, AR 72901 or Sebastian Retired Citizens Association (SRCA) Meals on Wheels 2700 Cavanaugh Road P. O. Box 181030 Fort Smith, AR 72918.
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