Marvin Don Watson

Marvin Don Watson, 75, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Saturday, January 5, 2019 surrounded by his family and friends. He was born on January 7, 1943, to William Alonzo and Ava Angeline (Watson) Coward in Port Arthur, Texas. When his mother passed away when he was four years old, he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Annie and Melvin Coward, in Cleves, Ohio.

Don is survived by his son Daniel Watson and wife Michelle, grandchildren Matthew, Joshua and Cathlynn, brothers George Coward (Sandra), Cecil Coward, and Robert Coward, sisters Arlene Christiansen, Aline Goddard, Frances Bertrand (Mitchell), Jean Martin, and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family. Don was a loving father, grandfather and a friend to everyone he met. He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt and uncle who raised him, and brothers Irvin Coward and James (Jim) Coward and sister, Adele Parsons.

He graduated from William Henry Harrison High School in Harrison, Ohio and El Camino Community College in Torrance, California. He served in the U.S. Army and was a Viet Nam veteran. He worked for many years in civil service at Castle Air Force base in Atwater, California and retired from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Don loved to work and play. His fall and winter weekends were spent in the foothills of California panning for gold with his brother Cecil and his son. Free time in the summer was spent enjoying a leisurely swim in the pool. Don loved watching the San Francisco ‘49ers football team. Later in life he discovered his error and began rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. Don also loved astronomy and geology. Many winter nights were spent far away from the city lights peering deep into space searching for comets, meteors or just showing his son the rings of Saturn. After retiring he lived in Orange for many years and attended Wesley United Methodist Church with sisters Frances and Jean and St. Henry Catholic Church with his sister Arlene. He alternated Sundays to keep everyone happy and he enjoyed the fellowship at both churches. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 he moved to Colorado to be near his son and family.

A visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City, Texas with the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. The Rev. Randall Branch of Wesley United Methodist Church in Orange will preside. Military honors will be presented at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens immediately following the funeral service.

Don positively affected everyone he came in contact with. He was a caring and generous person who will be greatly missed.