Thomas Watson

Thomas E. Watson

Thomas Edward Watson, aged 93, of Texas City, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2013. Tom was born in Burton, Texas on August 8, 1919, the youngest of four children of John Francis Watson and Sophie Louise Fisher.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Army at the end of World War II, Tom continued his education at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas and the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a degree in business administration in 1947. Later that year, fate and opportunity conspired to bring him to Texas City, Texas, where he worked for Republic Refinery in what would later be called employee relations. He later joined Amoco Chemicals in Texas City where he worked until his retirement in 1986.

In 1956, he met and fell in love with Patricia Vey Mullins, a young Texas City schoolteacher. They married on July 4, 1957, and began their family the next year. In addition to work and family, Tom and Pat enjoyed hosting their annual New Years Day open house, with neighbors and friends coming and going and a different football game in every room.

Tom always put his family first. He had numerous opportunities to climb the ladder at the corporation which would later become BP, but he felt that uprooting his children from their community wouldnt be best for them in the long run. His commitment to his community included service on the board of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, as president of the Texas City ISD School Board, as a member and president of the Texas City Rotary Club, and as an elder at his church.

Before and after his retirement, Tom and Pat enjoyed watching their childrens lives progress through completion of college with Tom never once complaining about funding all three of his children getting degrees from that school in College Station and beginning their own families. Opportunities for reunions were always treasured, whether at their Camp Creek retreat, or later in family vacations to Galveston, Florida, or Colorado, as well as holidays at their Texas City home.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, brother John Fisher Watson, Jr., and sister Allyne Watson Campbell. He is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Patricia Mullins Watson son John Thomas Watson and his wife Kimberly of Houston, TX son William Mullins Watson and his wife Teri of Baton Rouge, LA daughter Karen Watson Batte of Beaumont, TX grandchildren Robert Fischer Watson Allison Anne Batte Andrew William Watson Kristen Claire Batte Madelyn Marie Batte Olivia Grace JiaWun Watson Sophia Marie JieLing Watson and greatgrandson Micah Robert Watson. He is also survived by one sister, Lucille Watson Neese of Carmine, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at EmkenLinton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, April 26. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 1112 7th St. N. in Texas City, at 10 am on Saturday, April 27, with a reception following. Graveside services will be at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetary in Hitchcock. Pallbearers include John Thomas Watson, William Mullins Watson, Robert Fischer Watson, Andrew William Watson, Thomas Charles Campbell, and Paul Randal Donnelly.

Donations in his name may be made to the Alzheimers Association of Texas www.alz.org or First Presbyterian Church of Texas City, Texas.

Visitation

EmkenLinton Funeral Home
5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway
Texas City, TX  77591
Friday, April 26, 2013
5:00 7:00 p.m.

Service

Memorial Service

First Presbyterian Church
1112 7th Street N
Texas City, TX  77590
Saturday, April 27, 2013
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Galveston Memorial Park
7301 Memorial Drive
Hitchcock, TX  77563

Memorial Contributions

P.O. Box 96011
Washington, DC  20090


1112 7th Street N
Texas City, TX  77590