Douglas Henry Watson

Col. Ret. Douglas H. Watson August 21, 1918 - February 14, 2008 Douglas Henry Watson of McGregor passed away Thursday, February 14, 2008 with his wife and daughter present. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, February 18, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Father Nolan Garrett officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cameron. Col Watson will receive full military honors both at the chapel service and at the interment. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Doug was born August 21, 1918 in Ft. Worth to Charles and Katherine Watson. He was raised in Waco and graduated Class of '36 from Waco High School. After high school he graduated from Texas A&M University in 1940. Upon graduation he was recruited by Aetna Life Insurance as a special agent and moved to Aetna's home office in Hartford, CT. There he met the love of his life, Virginia Jinny Wells. They were married in Griffin, GA on December 14, 1941. In October 1941, he accepted his commission from Texas A&M as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He served in WWII in Europe and after a 26 year military career he retired from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. in June 1966.. He thoroughly enjoyed 26 years in the military Field Artillery Branch. He also served in Europe in WWII, late 1943-45 and then reported to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma as a Gunnery Instructor. Both children were born there. Other assignments include Korea, Japan and Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas where he graduated from the Army's Command & General Staff College. At that time, he received orders to head up the U.S. Military Advisory Group under Gen. James F. Hollingsworth in Rawalpindi, Pakistan 1957-1959. Stateside again to Ft. Lewis, WA. and finally to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., retiring in June 1966. Returning to Texas, he became a stock broker with Brown/Allen in Dallas; and in 1978, he retired again, returning home to Waco and his ranch in McGregor. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, John Watson. He is survived by his loving wife, Virginia Watson and daughter, Pat, both of McGregor, TX.cousins The Bobby F. Hughes Family of Ft. Worth, TX and The Norman Hughes Family of Houston, TX Memorials may be made to Providence Hospice, 4830 Lakewood Dr. Ste. 2, Waco, TX 76710; Emmanuel United Anglican Church, 600 Lake Air Dr. 40B, Waco, TX 76710 or the charity of your choice. The family would like to express their sincere heart felt 'thanks' to the entire staff at Providence Hospice, especially to Michele Lloyd and Cheryl Lawson for their special care to Dad and our family. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.