He was born Sept. 8, 1944, in Logansport, Ind., to Margery Porter of Monticello, Ind., and the late Carl E. Watson.
He attended Burrows Grade School and Delphi High School (Class of ’62). He was a proud Boilermaker, graduating from Purdue University with a B.S. in Forestry (Class of ’67) and Frostburg University with an M.S. in Management (Class of ’74).
Mr. Watson left Indiana to pursue his dream as a forester. He worked at Potomac Edison and was later promoted to system forester and general manager at Allegheny Power. He was internationally known for his vegetation management work and went on to be an environmental consultant, which brought him to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.
He was a member of the board of directors of ISA Research Trust and past president of the Utility Arborist Association.
He was an avid golfer and a world traveler who enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was also a talented wood craftsman whose proudest work was his home.
He was preceded in death by his father; his first wife, Patricia Anne Watson; and sister, Lynn Sue Green of Lafayette, Ind.
Surviving are his present wife, Anita Watson of Falling Waters; children, Mike Palladino (wife, Misha) of Hagerstown, Md., Anthony DePalo (wife, Darla) of Mercersburg, Pa., Taft Sargent, Dania Azman Al Rashid of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Sharafina Azman Al Rashid of St. Louis, Mo.; sister, Nancy Sharp of Monticello; and brother, John Watson (wife, Carolyn) of Burroughs, Ind. Also surviving are six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2015, at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at Rose Hill Cemetery, 600 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown.
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