GEORGE L. WATSON age 84,  went home to be with the Lord on February 16, 2017.

Cherished father of Darlene (Bradford) Youngblood, Brent Watson (Brenda), Richard Watson (Charolette, Fiance’) and one adopted daughter,  Janet (Elliott);  grandfather of,  Jordan, Jessica, Jada, Joshua , Dani and Emelie; two adopted grandchildren, Kelli and Kalil; one great-granddaughter RaMaya; Loving brother of Minnie Hooper,  Herbert Watson and sister-in-law, Levell Watson, nieces, nephews and a host of other family members and friends.

George L Watson, was born in East St Louis, Illinois on October 22, 1932 to Sallie Wheat- Watson and Hollie Watson.  He was the sixth of twelve children; five siblings died prior to his birth and four siblings preceded him in death.

George attended school in East St Louis, Illinois and graduated from Lincoln High School.  He then moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he became a Mason and then entered the United States Air Force for 4 years and was the Middle Weight (155 lbs) Armed Forces Boxing Champion from 1953-1956.  He was married to Jessie Mae Wilson to which two children were born and then to Betty D. Baccus to which one child was born.

George worked as a Safety Engineer at General Electric and was the Director of Corporate Safety at Lamson and Sessions.  In 1961 George organized and founded the Glenville Youth Athletic Association (GYAA) where he served as President, Chairman and board member for 28 years. The purpose of this organization was to give young men in the Glenville area a positive outlook and activity to expel their energy, as well as instructing them in the fundamentals of baseball (“Playing by the rules”).

After retirement from Lamson and Sessions in 1992, he opened his own safety management company, GLW and Associates, Incorporated with his two sons.

George was a long time member of Antioch Baptist Church for over 50 years serving on the Laymen’s League and a member of the October Birthday club.  George would be at Antioch Baptist Church every Sunday until his health prevented him from attending regularly or his grandchildren had a program at their church.

George loved his family unconditionally with “Agape” love.  He enjoyed talking with his older sister, Minnie every day for years.  George helped oversee the care of his father until his death at 100 years of age in 2003.  He also cared for two of his elder sisters, Ethel Shell and Lillie Monroe until their demise; making frequent trips to his Illinois home at 1927 Lawrence Avenue.

George enjoyed “spoiling” his grandchildren, teaching them how to get the cookies off the refrigerator with his step stool and giving pointers on playing baseball and other sporting activities.  George never liked to see his grandchildren disciplined and would often intervene with their parents.  In interacting with his first great-grandchild, George would often be seen playing “Tea Party” and being instructed to take his medicine at her insistence.