Gene Herbert Watson

To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose- Ecclesiastes 3:1 Today we gather to acknowledge and celebrate the new life unto which Gene Herbert Watson has entered; and eternal life in the presence of his God and Lord; his creator. A Time To Be Born- Ecclesiastes 3:2 Gene Herbert Watson was born on May 29, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of the late Martha E. Watson and Fate Owen Matthews. Gene was the second of five siblings. He was a caring, warm and loving brother. A Time To Be Trained- Proverbs 22:6 Gene attended Dunbar High School in Northeast Baltimore City, then left to complete his education at Carver High School in Baltimore. After graduation he would go onto welding school to learn what he considered to be an honorable and lucrative trade. A Time To Be Saved- John 30:3 He was nurtured in a Christian home by his mother. Gene believed strongly in his faith, not always an overly religious man, but one who was deeply spiritual. He later converted to Catholicism with his wife Gracie, and attended St. Katherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church. A Time To Love- Ecclesiastes 3:9 September 24, 1955 marked the day when Gene and Gracie Edwards entered into holy matrimony. God allowed them to spend fifty-six years of wedded bliss. Out of this union they were blessed with six children, Tanya, Jean, Mayo, Eudora, Nancy, Adrian and later they adopted Brianna to add to their family. Gene was not only a devoted husband to Gracie and father, but also a loving grandfather, friend, confidant to many. Gene and his wife were also surrogate foster parents to over two hundred thirty-seven children. He would go on to love and touch the lives of many of these children who loved and respected him dearly and would often come by to visit him and his family right up to his death. A Time To Labor- Genesis 3:19 & Matthew 20:25 Gene served in the United States Army, Stationed first in Ft. Benning then onto the 97TH SIG OPN BN Infantry in Germany, then last the Ft. George Meade, Maryland, PETS Unit as a mechanic. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and received two medals (National Defense Services and Standard of Good Conduct). After thirty-seven years of service, Gene retired from Bethlehem Steel, Sparrows Point, as a Welder. He would later go on to do various odd jobs to keep himself busy. Gene had a very full and enjoyable life that included the precious times with his family and traveling, fishing off his boat and especially riding his motorcycle (Harley), going to dances and cabarets with his wife and friends. He and his family would love to take Sunday drives and drawing cartoon characters like Dick Tracey. Gene was a man who served as a mentor to many neighborhood young men, teaching them his mechanical skills, trying to keep them out of trouble. He was a man with a heart of gold, who never met a stranger and who always greeted you with a smile and a kind word. A Time To Be With The Lord- Numbers 23:10 Gene, affectionately called Herbie by his wife, will be sorely missed by all of those who knew him and loved him. His hearty laugh and playful side will no longer be a part of our day-to-day reality. However, the legacy of love and happy memories that he created will remain in our hearts forever. We thank God for his blessings and the opportunity that we had to love and cherish him in our lives. Gene Watson, the beloved family man, friend and loving brother, leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife, Gracie; his loving children, Tanya, Jean, Mayo, Marshall, Eudora, Nancy, Adrian and Brianna; his grandchildren, Adrianne and Jean Nicole ; his sisters, Joan Johnson and Dana Marcus; his brothers, Owen Reynolds and Tim Mack; a devoted and loving cousin, Alice Freeman; son-in-law, Milton Gholston; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Watson; brother-in-law, Matthew Marcus; and a host of other relatives and friends. Gene Watson ( or lovingly Herbie or Gino) went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.

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Gene Herbert Watson

May 20, 1931 - September 27, 2011