Michael Richard Watson resided in Falling Waters, and passed away on Friday, May 22, 2015 at his residence after his long battle with cancer.
He was born Sept. 8, 1944, in Logansport, IN to Margery Porter of Monticello, IN and the late Carl E. Watson. He attended Burrows Grade School and Delphi High School (Class of ’62). He was a proud Boilermaker, graduating from Purdue University with a B.S. in Forestry (Class of ’67) and Frostburg University with a M.S. in Management (Class of ’74).
Mr. Watson left Indiana to pursue his dream as a forester. He worked at Potomac Edison and was later promoted to system forester and general manager at Allegheny Power. He was a member of the Potomac Edison Forerunners Club. He was internationally known for his vegetation management work and went on to be an environmental consultant which brought him to Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia.
He was a member of the board of directors of ISA Research Trust and past president of the Utility Arborist Association. He was an avid golfer and a world traveler who enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was also a talented wood craftsman whose proudest work was his home.
He was preceded in death by his father, his first wife, Patricia Anne Watson, and sister, Lynn Sue Green of Lafayette, IN.
Surviving are his present wife, Anita Watson of Falling Waters, WV; children, Mike Palladino (wife: Misha) of Hagerstown, MD, Anthony DePalo (wife: Darla) of Mercersburg, PA, Taft Sargent, Dania Azman Al Rashid of Chapel Hill, NC, and Sharafina Azman Al Rashid of St. Louis, MO; sister, Nancy Sharp of Monticello, IN; and brother, John Watson (wife: Carolyn) of Burroughs, IN. Also surviving are six grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Family will receive friends 6-8pm Sunday, May 24, 2015 at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown. Graveside services will be 1pm on Tuesday, May 26 at Rose Hill Cemetery, 600 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD.