Thomas J. "Tom" Watson

NEWTON…Mr. Thomas J. “Tom” Watson, a resident of Newton, died late Saturday evening, December 17, 2022, in the emergency room of a Dothan hospital. He was 82.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in the Bethel Baptist Church, near Newton, with Reverend Mike Griggs officiating. Burial will follow in the Newton City Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. at the church.

Mr. Watson, son of the late Lonnie Franklin Watson and Bennie Mae Golden Watson, was a native and lifelong resident of Newton. He was formerly employed with Sunnyland in Dothan from 1973 until retiring from Purdue Farms in 2003. Following his retirement, he was employed with the Newton Water Department until Thanksgiving of 2022. Mr. Watson enjoyed taking his grandchildren to the lake, air boating on the river, fishing, wrestling, and Alabama Football. He accepted Christ late in life and loved listening to the music at his church, Bethel Baptist Church, where he was a member. Mr. Watson was preceded in death by four sisters, Nancy Keen, Eileen Price, Mary Lou Holton, and Mary Judah, three brothers, Bobby Gene Watson, James Howard Watson, and Samuel Junior Watson.

Surviving relatives include his wife of forty-six years, Elaine Holton Watson; three daughters, Janice Walker (Keith), Lindy Armstrong, and Lisa Miller (Danny); two sons, Tommy Watson (Darlene) and Tony Watson (Donna), all of Newton; fifteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; two brothers, Samuel “Pete” Watson (Elizabeth) and Billy Gene Watson (Mary), special K-9 companion, Layla; several nieces and nephews.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Jordan Watson, Keith Walker, Tyler Miller, Brent Armstrong, Bradley Armstrong, and Justin Hand.