Joe Cornelius Watts, first born child of Harry Otis and Sarah Wilkerson Watts stepped very peacefully into the presence of Jesus Saturday, December 15, 2012, and was welcomed by his parents, his brother Bobby Adams, his sister Sarah Elizabeth Watts, his step-mother Mary, as well as a host of friends and relatives.
Joe was born on May 2, 1924, at home in Ravenden Springs, Arkansas and spent most of his childhood at the Little Rock Children’s Home where he and his brother and sisters were placed after their mother died. As one of the ‘older’ boys at the Home, he quickly became the Home Administrator’s, Miss Ruth Beall’s, right hand man. He was her chauffer and often drove her to the horse races at Hot Springs. He met many notables when they came to visit the Home, as well as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and loved to talk about his adventures there.
In the 40’s as war was brewing, Joe and two of the other ‘older’ boys enlisted in the Army Air Corps. The three had been promised that they could stay together, but it was not to be. Joe ended up at Foster Field in Victoria and spent a lot of time on Matagorda Island. It was 1942 when he met his future wife, Marjorie Fischer, at DaCosta Hall. Joe and Marjorie were married at the First English Lutheran Church in Victoria on June 22, 1944 and this union produced three children, Nancy, Laura and Bruce.
Joe found work in the oil field after his discharge from the service and eventually moved his family to Refugio. Joe was entrepreneurial and owned several businesses over the 45 years they lived there. He also began his membership in the Masonic Lodge. Joe held every office in the local Lodge, many twice, and was awarded the Golden Trowel service award twice for his devotion to the teachings of Masonry. He mentored numerous young men in the teaching of Free Masonry, both in Refugio and Victoria.
Joe and Marjorie returned to Victoria in 2002. Joe was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, and had been ordained an elder while a member of First Presbyterian Church, Refugio. Joe is survived by his wife, Marjorie Watts; his daughters, Nancy Watts and Laura Kinnison; his son, Bruce Watts, all of Victoria; his three grandchildren, Will (Kristi) Kinnison of Victoria, Jess (Sara) Kinnison of Austin and Alexis (David) Priest of Victoria; and his three great-grandchildren, Jacob Kinnison and Gracie Kinnison of Austin and Nathan Priest of Victoria. He is also survived by his sisters, Wanda Miller of California, Mary Del Wren, Betty Rone, Mae Broadway, Mary Ella Green and Dolly Arnold, all of Arkansas and numerous nieces and nephews.
In keeping with his wishes, Joe will be honored with an old fashioned Ozark home going, complete with Bluegrass music. Pall bearers carrying the handmade cedar coffin will be grandsons Will Kinnison and Jess Kinnison; nieces Carol Butler and Katherine Schuelke, and nephew Don Schuelke and Don Angel. Honorary Pall Bearers are Robert Obsta, Doris Obsta and Claire Obsta.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at the Rosewood Funeral Chapel from 5-7 PM.
A funeral service will be Wednesday, Decemeber 19, 2012, at 2 PM, at the Rosewood Funeral Chapel with Rev. Dan Fults officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Texas, 605 Locust, Victoria, Texas, 77904.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com
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