William “Bill” Watson, one of America’s Greatest Generation, died peacefully Thursday, June 29, 2017, having lived an extraordinary life.
The second youngest of nine kids, he was born April 13, 1924, to loving parents, Joseph and Nannie Watson in Irwin, Pa. Bill enjoyed a fun-filled childhood despite the hardships of the Great Depression, and he spoke of his parents and siblings with love and fondness. On Saturdays, his sisters would heat up bath water on the stove and the kids would bathe, in birth order, one at a time, in the metal washtub on the living room floor.
Bill was a charming people-person who easily engaged others in conversation. As a teen, Bill met the love of his life, Helen Oleksy, and after a short courtship, the two secretly married in 1941 before shipping off to war. They celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary together on May 23.
Bill served as a demolition expert in World War II, bravely storming Omaha Beach, in the first wave of the D-Day invasion. After the liberation of France, he helped secure the Remagen Bridge and fought to suppress Germany’s final offensive attack in the Battle of the Bulge. In 2014, he and his grandson Kevin, traveled back to Normandy to make peace and to be celebrated and honored as a hero and defender of global freedom. Bill’s war experience had a profound effect on his life. His war buddies were lifelong friends, and he and Helen attended the annual reunion of his military company for more than 50 years. He had an affinity for veterans and was active with both the VFW and DAV.
Once home from war, Bill and Helen had two children, Elaine and Billy, and he worked hard to provide a nice life for his family. He was proud of his home, his cars, his cottage in the mountains, his family vacations — especially the trip to Hawaii! Bill was an exceptional man and he made time to help people out; he took care of his extended family members. The family suffered terrible heartbreak when their son, Billy, died of leukemia in 1972. He said the pain of losing Billy never eased.
Bill worked in the car business his entire life, both as a service manager and salesman, and people trusted Bill because he was an honest guy. In their free time, Bill and Helen spent time at “camp” hosting friends and family. Once a grandpap, camp became a weekend ritual with his grandsons Teddy and Kevin.
In 1986, Bill and Helen retired and later moved to Florida for a decade of travel and fun. Later, they moved to a retirement community in Apollo, Pa., where they thought they’d live out their glory years. In 2013, as Helen’s health worsened, they packed up one more time and moved to Yorktown, Va., where he spent his days caring for his wife and distributing cookies to the great-grandkids.
Bill Watson was a remarkable guy who lived an extraordinary life. He was born into a world that expected nothing of him. When he was needed, he volunteered to fight the good fight, and when that was done, he came home and humbly went to work building his family, his community, his career and his country.
Bill was preceded in death by his son, Billy, and countless other family members and friends. He leaves behind his wife of 76 years, Helen; daughter, Elaine, and her husband, Ted Montini; grandchildren, Ted (Julie) Montini, Kevin (Dena) Montini; great-grandchildren, Danielle (Thomas Miller), Moriah, Ashlan, Alia and Rocco Montini; and sister, Dorothy Davis of Elyria, Ohio.
The family would like to thank Dr. John Bryant, York Convalescent Rehab Center, and York County Social Services. A private family service is planned.
