A funeral service will be held Tuesday for Harry E. Watson Sr., who passed away Oct. 29, 2009, at the home of his daughter Sandy Shipton of Moncks Corner, S.C., after a brief illness. He was 94.

Mr. Watson was born Jan. 28, 1915, at home in Sharpsville to Elmer E. Watson and Iva May Mercer Watson.

He lived his first 83 years in Sharpsville, graduating from Sharpsville High School and attending many high school reunions. He then moved to Connelly Manor in Sharon until June of this year, when he moved to South Carolina with his daughter.

Mr. Watson married the former Dorothy F. Cagle on Oct. 4, 1941, at the First Methodist Church in Ripley, N.Y. They made their home in Sharpsville until her death on Jan. 12, 1998.

He was an active member of the Shriners Zem Zem Wheel Patrol and achieved a 32nd Degree of the Fraternal Order of the Freemasonry. For many years he took children to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Erie. He was also active in parades to help raise money and awareness to the needs of children.

He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps Camps during World War II, and was employed at General American Transportation Corp.’s former Masury plant and the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. until his retirement. He also owned and operated Watson Welding Co. in Sharpsville.

Mr. Watson was a lifelong member of Sharpsville First United Methodist Church.

Harry had the wanderlust for travel. For many years he and his wife traveled the country in their travel trailer. He was an avid hunter, from the woods of Pennsylvania to the big game lands of Wyoming, and a fisherman from the Shenango River to the ocean off Florida, South Carolina, Texas and beyond.

Mr. Watson is survived by three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They are: Harry E. Watson Jr. and his wife Marilyn of Houston and their children, Katharine Behelfer and her husband Garrick and their daughter Clementine, their stepdaughter, Beth D’Alba and her husband Tony and their daughter Elsie, and Benjamin Watson and his wife Jennifer and Zachary Watson; Carole Stevens and her husband Larry of Roanoke, Va., and their son Michael Stevens and his wife Amanda; and Sandra Shipton, widow of Paul Shipton of Moncks Corner, and their daughters Valerie Shipton, and Sarah LeVasseur and her husband Jason and their daughter Hannah. He was also the proud uncle of 25 nieces and nephews and many other great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Watson was preceded in death by four brothers, infant William, Charles Howard Watson, Elmer Watson and George Watson; and two sisters, Lydia Harshman and Ruth Flanigan.

Harry lived an active life and will be missed by many friends, but the love of being Dad, Grandpa and Uncle to so many will leave a void in all our hearts. We are saddened by his death but have great comfort that he is now at peace.

WATSON

Harry E. Sr., 94, of Moncks Corner, S.C., formerly of Sharpsville and Sharon.

Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday (11-2-09) in DONALDSON-MOHNEY FUNERAL HOME, 124 Main St., Sharpsville.

Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Tuesday (11-3-09) in the funeral home with the Rev. Ralph Cotten of First United Methodist Church, Sharpsville; and Mr. Watson’s nephew, Rev. David Robertson of First Baptist Church of Green, Ohio, officiating.