Billy Watson Obituary

Watson
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Billy Gene Watson
October 31, 1927 - September 30, 2017
Billy Gene Watson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF, passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday, September 30, 2017, in Colorado Springs. He was born October 31, 1927 in Arbyrd, Missouri, one of 11 children of Luther and Mayme (Green) Watson. Billy's parents were farmers and, from a young age, he picked cotton and helped with other farm chores. Times were hard, but the lack of material possessions was outweighed by the friendships Billy made, especially those at Deering High School that lasted through the years. Billy was introduced to flying as a passenger in a neighboring farmer's crop dusting plane. He joined the Air Force in 1948 and began pilot training. When the Korean War started, Billy and his classmates were among the first to go. Billy flew 125 combat missions and spent a month with the 2nd Infantry Division as a forward controller. He held a variety of positions during his 27-year Air Force career, including fighter pilot, operations officer, administrator, instructor and inspector. He was assigned to seven different stateside air bases and in six foreign countries, and had a year-long tour in Thailand during the Vietnam conflict. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
As a young pilot, Billy met Norma Manini, a lovely Southern belle, on a blind date in Columbia, South Carolina. Billy and Norma were married a year later on July 21, 1951 and embarked upon their life in the Air Force. The couple had three children: Sande, Lori and Billy Jr. They made Colorado Springs their permanent home after Billy retired from the Air Force in 1975. When Norma passed away in May 2017, they had been married nearly 66 years.
Billy was busy in retirement - completing additional schooling, refurbishing cars, and opening ABC Tax Service. He was an avid golfer, tennis player and vegetable gardener, a member of the Order of Daedalians and the Retired Officers Association, and a fan of the Air Force Falcons and Denver Broncos. He served on the Evergreen Cemetery Board.
Billy could build or repair anything. When granddaughter Amy at a young age asked him to build a treehouse in a tree-less backyard, he improvised by building a fort on stilts. He cherished his grandchildren and treated them to backyard softball games and hot dogs and marshmallows roasted around a campfire.
Billy was predeceased by his wife Norma, and his father, mother, brothers Richard (Dick), Larry and Doyne, and sisters Almanee Tucker, Pauline Montgomery, Gayle Frazier, June Foster, Bonnie Watson, Jackie Vancil and O'Nell Watson.
He is survived by daughters Sande Kimbel (husband Bruce) and Lori Spaulding; son Billy Watson Jr. (wife Heather); grandchildren Amy Kimbel, Daniel Kimbel, Eric Spaulding (wife Keise), Spencer Watson (wife Julia) and Jessica Watson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family has held a private celebration of life. Memorial contributions may be made in Billy's name to the Daedalians Foundation at daedalians.org or the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbot Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.