William Watson

William (Bill) Lee Watson born on April 18, 1933 from Sweetwater, Tennessee passed away at the age of 88 in San Antonio, Texas on March 15, 2022.   Bill’s passing was peaceful while he was surrounded by his loving family after a stroke. Up until the day of the stroke, Bill was active and worked on his beloved farm every day.

Bill often said that he was a Hillbilly from Tennessee and it was evident that he loved his home state.  True to the spirit of Tennessee being the “volunteer state,” Bill enlisted in the Army at the age of 16.  He served as a Green Beret (Special Forces) Parachutist in the Korean War and 3 deployments to the Vietnam War, where he received a long list of metals including the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in a combat zone.  He retired in 1974 as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3).

While stationed in Korea in 1961, Bill met the love of his life, Yoon Sook Lee (이윤숙).  They were married January 14, 1963 and had two children while stationed in Okinawa, Japan.  In 1974, Bill and Lee moved to San Antonio after nearly 25 years of active service.  During service Bill attended college and received additional degrees after retiring from the military, including a Master’s in Business Administration, as he transitioned into careers in real estate, procurement in Saudi Arabia, and finally a farmer in Marion, Texas.  He looked forward to having coffee every Wednesday morning with his friends at the “Old Farts Club.”

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Zelda and Laura Watson, and siblings Gertrude, Audrey, Louise, Christine, Herbert, Alice, Betty, and Clell.  He is survived by his wife Lee Watson, brother Gene, daughter Carman, son Calvin and his wife Tonya, grandsons Austin and his wife Becca, Wade, Ben and his wife Keeley, Jackson, granddaughters Katherine and her husband Kenny, Zoe, Robyn, great-grandsons Andrew, Jackson, and great-granddaughter Ava.

Visitation will be held on Thursday April 21, 2022 from 5pm to 7pm at Schertz Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held on Friday April 22, 2022 at 9:30am at Schertz Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:15am.