Watson Services Scheduled Today
Funeral services for Pensacola attorney William Henry Watson, 91, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Herbert A. Miller officiating.
Mr. Watson was found dead of a bullet wound to the head at his residence early Thursday. Pensacola police, who are still investigating, said a .32 caliber revolver was found nearby.
Mr. Watson, who had resided at 16 W. LaRua St., was considered the oldest practicing attorney in the state by the Florida Bar Association.
A Native of Freeport, he was born Feb. 22, 1876. A graduate of the Florida State Normal School at DeFuniak Springs, he was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1897, and became eligible to practice before the Florida Supreme Court in May, 1899, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1915.
Active in community affairs, Mr. Watson was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Past Master of Escambia Lodge No. 15, and director of the Citizens & Peoples National Bank of Pensacola for more than 50 years.
He served a four year term as Walton County superintendent of public instruction, and later moved to Pensacola.
He is survived by two sons, William H. Watson Jr., retired captain, U.S. Navy; and James Baker Watson, both of Pensacola; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Pensacola, with Masonic rites at the graveside.
Honorary pallbearers will be directors of Citizens & Peoples National Bank, directors of Pensacola Home and Savings Assoc. and Tom T. Gully and C. J. Brown.
Waters & Hibbert has charge of arrangements.
Active will be Thos. C. Brent and Sinclair Watson, James M. and Charles S. Coe and James C. Watson II.
[Source: The Pensacola Journal, March 17, 1967, Page 22]
[Burial: St. John’s Cemetery, Pensacola]