Aiken Standard-Memoriams
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Joseph (Joe) Calhoun Watson died at the age of 99 1/2 on November 8, 2022. His life reflected his strong Christian faith. He loved people and never met a stranger.
Joe was born in Ridge Spring on April 4, 1923, the son of Joseph Calhoun (Cal) and Aurelia Cunningham Watson. He graduated from Ridge Spring High School and was attending Clemson College when he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. Joe served in the 1st Battalion of the 291stInfantry Regiment of the 75th Infantry Division. He commanded a mortar platoon and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. Joe received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a French Legion of Honor medal for his service.
After the war, Joe graduated from Clemson with a degree in agricultural engineering. Then he returned to his beloved community of Ridge Spring where he spent most of his life as a farmer and merchant. In 1948 he married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Steadman. Joe and Betty were married for 64 years before her death in 2013.
As a farmer, Joe developed a passion for improving the cultivation of pecans. He opened the Nut House in the 1980s to sell pecan treats made from nuts from his orchards.
Joe was an active member of Ridge Spring United Methodist Church serving as Sunday School teacher, leader of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and holder of many offices. Joe led youth on many trail rides to Aiken State Park, providing horses for many riders.
In 1969Joe answered the request of his brother, Dr. Michael Watson, to accompany him to Haiti as a representative of the S.C. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. That began Joe's love affair with the Haitian people. Over the next 30 years hemade more than 40 mission trips to Haiti providing agricultural assistance. For example, he helped introduce new crops and more modern farming methods and helped organize marketing cooperatives. Back home Joe spoke at churches around the state to raise funds for Haiti.
Joe was the father, grandfather, and great grandfather of a family in which he took great pride. These include his daughter, Mary Watson Edmonds; his son, the Reverend Joseph C. Watson (Susanna); his grandchildren, Aurelia Hamilton (Elwood), Cal Watson (Jodie), Elizabeth Wood (Nicolas), Michael Edmonds, Marion (Chip) Edmonds, and Molly Yates (Ian); and his great grandchildren, Jennings Hamilton, Madeline Watson, Jake Watson, Bennett Wood, Kennerly Wood, Mary Holland Wood, and Theodore Yates.
The family appreciates the many people who brightened Joe's final years. They are especially grateful to Loretta Boyd and Chip Edmonds who provided nursing care, love, and companionship?Loretta at his home in Ridge Spring and Chip during his final year in assisted living.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ridge Spring United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow the service at the Ridge Spring Cemetery. Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic B-L Chapel is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the S.C. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, 4908 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203.
Online register at Barr-Price.com
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