Elgiva Ruth Dundas Watson

Elgiva Ruth Dundas Watson, born in London, England on June 22, 1929, died peacefully on Friday morning, June 24. Elgiva lived her last months surrounded by loving family and friends, especially her husband of more than 60 years, Penn T. Watson, Jr.; her son, Rom P. Watson, III (wife, Susan Bazett) of Newton, MA; and her daughters, Ruth Dundas of Sausalito, CA and Clare Watson Chance (husband, Tony) of Orlando.

Elgiva emigrated to the United States with her parents, Admiral and Mrs. John and Ruth Dundas, in 1946. She entered Duke University as their youngest January freshman until that time, and graduated in 1950, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Elgiva and Penn began their life together in Goldsboro and Wilson, N.C., where Elgiva volunteered with the First United Methodist Church of Wilson and was an active member of The Book Club, one of the oldest book clubs in the state. After moving to Raleigh with their three children in 1964, Elgiva continued her education, receiving both a Master’s Degree and a PhD. in History from U.N.C. in Chapel Hill. Dr. Watson became a professor at St. Mary’s College in 1972, and became Academic Dean in 1988, serving in that role until her retirement in 1994.

Retirement was only a beginning for Dr. Watson… She loved sailing and traveling with her family, reading great books, and listening to an eclectic mix of wonderful music, both live and recorded. But the excitement of helping interested people to learn drew her back to the lectern, as Dr. Watson began a second career teaching older people through Elderhostel, and as a volunteer professor with the Encore program at N.C. State University, from 2001 through 2010. Dr. Watson taught what she most enjoyed in this last phase of her career, bringing historical characters to life as she described the contexts and idiosyncrasies of Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Fathers of the American Revolution.

Elgiva is survived by eight grandchildren: Winifred and Jeremy Scheuer; Alice, Margo, Gwendolyn, and Rosalind Watson; and Lela and Emily Acker. Elgiva’s brother and sisters also carry on the love Elgiva shared: Rosemary Patton (husband, Gray), Deirdre Newton (husband, Bill), John Dundas (wife, Julia), and Alexandra Todd (husband, Stephen Fox).

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Wake County, Springmoor Stewart Health Center, and Home Instead caregivers for their kind and competent care for Elgiva at the end of her life. Donations in memory of Elgiva will be gratefully accepted at Springmoor Endowment and Hospice of Wake County. A service memorializing Elgiva Ruth Dundas Watson will be held in Springmoor Auditorium in Raleigh on Friday, July 8 at 1:00 in the afternoon. Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is in charge.