EL MIRAGE, Ariz. – James William Watson, 89, Sun City, Ariz., and formerly of Warsaw, passed away Feb. 7, 2014. He was born Feb. 19, 1925, in Zanesville, to William H. and Constance Watson. On June 24, 1945, he married Maralee V. Hill, who survives. He was drafted into the Navy July 7, 1943, and spent six weeks at Great Lakes; six weeks at Navy Pier (diesel); six weeks at Little Creek, Va.; and six weeks at Fort Pierce, Fla. He boarded the USS Knox (APA) at New York and sailed through the Panama Canal to Hawaii. He hauled personnel and materials to the assault on Saipan, also Tinian, to Leyte and Luson in the Phillipines. He watched McArthur and group wade ashore, and then went to Iwo Jima. Also surviving are three sisters: Olive Boggs, Evelyn Moore and Sylvia Swoverland; one brother, Robert Watson; two children, Linda Carol Blake and Daniel Riley Watson; four grandchildren: Joel Douglas and Jeri Dee Blake, James W. and Robert M. Watson; one great-granddaughter, Alivia Joy Watson. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters. Sunwest Funeral Home, El Mirage, Ariz., was in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials to Hospice of the Valley.
