Obituary of William R. Watts

Mr. William R. Watts, Sr. departed this life at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula on December 23, 2020. He was 87 years old.

Watts was born on February 9, 1933 from the union of the late Cinnis Watts and Nannie Louise Hefner Watts of York, South Carolina where he grew up. He joined the US Army, and married Ella Ruth Douglas, also of York. Together they raised two children—Melbra and William, Jr—during his tours of duty in Japan, Korea, Massachusetts, Germany, Utah, Vietnam, and California. The Watts Family settled in Seaside and he retired after 20 years. He went on to work at Soledad State Correctional Facility where had a progressively successful career and retired after 27 years.

Watts was a golfer and jazz enthusiast, and enjoyed watching Westerns on TV, playing cards, and spoiling his pet dog, Sodapop.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruthie Watts; children Melbra Watts and William Watts, Jr.; granddaughter Chelsy Smith; nieces Ora Corley and Gail Mobley; nephew Carey Watts; numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews; brother-in-law Louis Douglas; and dear friends. We will all miss him.

A private graveside service will be held at Mission Memorial Park, 1915 Ord Gove Avenue, Seaside, CA on Thursday, January 7th at 11am.

The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.