Robert J. Watson

A funeral service for Robert J. Watson, age 93, of Newark, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 16, at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church, 67 North Fifth Street, Newark, with the Rev. William J. Rauch officiating. Burial will take place in Elmlawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York.Bob was born March 8, 1922 in Buffalo, New York to the late Victor Hugo and Wilhelmina A. (Gehring) Watson. He passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center (operated by Hospice of Central Ohio).Bob was a 1939 graduate of Kenmore Senior High School, Kenmore, New York. He attended the Buffalo State Teachers College for two years and then entered the United States Army during World War II. He spent three years with the 26th Infantry Division, known as the Yankee Division, and was at the Battle of the Bulge. Bob was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. Following his wartime service, Bob returned to Buffalo State University to continue his education. While there, he met his wife, Ruth, in an American Literature class. Bob received a Bachelors degree in Education in 1947 and he and Ruth were married on June 30, 1949. Bob later received Master of Science degrees in History and Political Science from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany and a Master of Library Science degree from SUNY at Gennesseo, completing the degrees during his summers off from teaching.Bob taught 8th grade History from September 1947 to June 1962. From 1962-69 he was a librarian at SUNY at Buffalo and on September 1, 1969 he became the Assistant Director of the Denison University Library, Granville, retiring after exactly 20 years of service on Sept. 1, 1989.Bob was an active and faithful member of St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newark. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Newark Public Library from 1988-2007 and was also a member of various other library organizations. Bob enjoyed acting and from 1971-1985 did 30 shows with the Welsh Hills Players (now the Licking County Players). From 1985-2005 he acted in over 20 shows with the Weathervane Playhouse.Bob is survived by a niece, Ruth Lynn Youngwirth of Leesburg, VA; and by many friends at St. Pauls and in the Licking County area.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Lydia (Youngwirth) Watson, on February 9, 2014; by a brother-in-law, William Youngwirth; and a nephew, John Youngwirth.Friends may call from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, and from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home, 179 Granville Street, Newark.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Pauls Ev. Lutheran Church.Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Bob and his family.