Funeral services for David Ernest Watson, Jr. will be held Saturday, April 3, 2004, at 10 a.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel. Pastor Marc Cargill of Lighthouse Christian Center officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

David Watson, age 69, died at his home in Oak Harbor March 31, 2004, following a lengthy illness. He was born July 6, 1934, in Walhalla, S.C., to David Ernest Watson, Sr. and Gladys Elean (Vissage) Watson. He graduated from high school in Walhalla.

Mr. Watson entered the U. S. Navy in 1952 and was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His military career took him to St. Albans, N.Y.; Port Hueneme, Calif.; Oceana Naval Air Station, Va.; Coronado, Calif.; Guam; Okinawa, Japan; San Diego, Calif.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Norfolk, Va.; Portsmouth, Va.; Tillamook and Portland, Ore.; and Oak Harbor, Washington. He retired Dec.r 11, 1973, at NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va.

Following retirement from the Navy, Mr. Watson owned and operated a gas station at the site of Whitehead’s Texaco station on Pioneer Way for many years. He then worked for Sunrise Resorts at various locations, including serving as park manager at Sawyer Lake and Deception Pass.

David is survived by his wife Joyce at the family home, Oak Harbor; his mother Elean Watson of Walhalla, S.C., and one son David E. Watson, III and wife Holly of Oak Harbor. Stepchildren, Gary Mowitch of Tahola, Sheila Washington of Atlanta, Ga., Belinda Slatterly and Hans Mertins, both of Oak Harbor and Raymond Susticum of Forks; one brother John and three sisters, Doris, Betty and Elizabeth also survive.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.