1927
Dwain
2016
Dwain Volney Watson
October 3, 1927 — October 7, 2016
He was known as Dwain by his wife and kids, known as Volney by his parents and siblings, and known as "Pop" to his grandkids. He was born on October 3rd in Stapp, Oklahoma to parents, William and Arizona. The 3rd youngest of 14 children, he was raised with 10 brothers and 3 sisters in a Christian household. As if walking to and from school every day wasn't enough, their mother made sure they walked to and from church every Sunday. When his mother was asked once "How can you afford to get all them kids ready and go to church every Sunday?" she replied "I can't afford not to." She also "reminded" them to read their Bible daily. Dwain passed his love of God down to his own family as well. He was raised a country boy, growing up on a farm and figured that would be his lot in life.
World War II was nearing its end when Dwain was called to serve as a medical technician in New York. After the war ended he, like so many soldiers, used the GI Bill to attend college. He always said that American society was forever changed by the opportunity for so many to go to college that would otherwise never have been able to.
He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State) with a degree in Agronomy & Horticulture, and was hired by the US Department of Agriculture. His first field office was in Memphis,TN. It was while attending Union Avenue Baptist Church that he met Jean, who would become his wife of 59 years. They raised 3 children together, Debra, Chuck and Beth. His job with the government transferred the family to 5 different states over the course of the next 25 or so years, and it was always a priority to find a new, church home where the first, new friendships were developed. His last transfer came in 1981 to Seattle, where he continued to live until he and Jean moved back to Oklahoma and built their retirement home in Wagoner.
After 25 years of life in Wagoner, his 3 kids (now all living back in Portland, Oregon) convinced him that he and Jean needed to be closer to them, and so one last move came in 2012.
Dwain went to join his Heavenly Father on the morning of October 7, 2016 in Oregon City, OR. He is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, Chuck; two daughters, Debra and Beth; two brothers, Loyd and Bill; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in his memory to the charity of ones choice or to:
World War II was nearing its end when Dwain was called to serve as a medical technician in New York. After the war ended he, like so many soldiers, used the GI Bill to attend college. He always said that American society was forever changed by the opportunity for so many to go to college that would otherwise never have been able to.
He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State) with a degree in Agronomy & Horticulture, and was hired by the US Department of Agriculture. His first field office was in Memphis,TN. It was while attending Union Avenue Baptist Church that he met Jean, who would become his wife of 59 years. They raised 3 children together, Debra, Chuck and Beth. His job with the government transferred the family to 5 different states over the course of the next 25 or so years, and it was always a priority to find a new, church home where the first, new friendships were developed. His last transfer came in 1981 to Seattle, where he continued to live until he and Jean moved back to Oklahoma and built their retirement home in Wagoner.
After 25 years of life in Wagoner, his 3 kids (now all living back in Portland, Oregon) convinced him that he and Jean needed to be closer to them, and so one last move came in 2012.
Dwain went to join his Heavenly Father on the morning of October 7, 2016 in Oregon City, OR. He is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, Chuck; two daughters, Debra and Beth; two brothers, Loyd and Bill; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in his memory to the charity of ones choice or to:
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dwain Volney Watson, please visit our flower store.
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