Lester B. Watson, 98, of Smethport, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021 at The Pavilion at BRMC, in Bradford.
Born on November 1, 1922, in Oil City, he was a son of the late DeForest Watson and Cora (Pressler) Watson Flanders. He attended Coudersport High School.
On September 18, 1954 in Austin he married the love of his life, Mildred L. (Goodman) Watson who preceded him in death on August 15, 2015.
Lester was a member of Overcomer's Church of Faith in Aiken.
At the age of 14, he quit high school to help provide for his family working on the family farm. In October of 1942, Lester enlisted in the Army Air Force, getting orders to be attached to the 338th Bomb Group and the 562nd Bomb Squadron, taking on the job as a waist and tail gunner for the B-17 Flying Fortress " Veni, Vidi, Vici,", being apart of some of the Eighth Air Force's toughest missions. He completed a total of 25 missions over Nazi Europe which on his 24th mission, he shot down two Nazi Fighter planes, and completing missions in Germany, Paris and the longest penetration mission ever flown by the AAF was to the Baltic Sea of Gdynia. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Staff Sergeant receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross medal, three oak leaf clusters and two gold stars on his campaign ribbon.
Lester was self employed for 40 years, owning his own company, Watson Logging in Smethport.
He enjoyed going to Buffalo, NY and Hazen to the flea markets on the weekends collecting and selling antiques. He was also known as the "Pennsylvania spinning wheel man". He enjoyed giving to charities that would feed the children around the world.
Lester is survived by two sons Jonathan (Venessa) Watson and Joseph ( Tammy) Watson both of Smethport. grandchildren Amber (Zach) Johnson, Zachery Watson, Natasha(Greg Babcock) Watson, Joel (Michelle Ishman) Watson, Chance Palmer, Jason (Chrystal) Watson, Perry (Nicole) Tanner, Jonathan (Katie) Watson, Kenneth Cleveland, James (Nicole) Watson, Rebecca Watson, and Jessica Watson, 23 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death byparents, his wife Millie, two daughters Mary Jane Watson and Karen Watson, two sons Duffy Watson and Barry Watson and three sisters Lillian C. Zurat Verrelli, Margaret Reed Harris, and Ida May Jones Dewyea.
There will be a public visitation on Thursday March 11, 2021 from 1-3PM at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc, 372 East Main St., Bradford with a service to follow with Pastor Frank Hill, pastor of the Overcomer's Church of Faith, in Aiken, officiating. Military honors will be presented by the American Legion 108 and the United States Air Force.
To view the service by live stream, please go to www.hollenbeckcahill.com and in the menu bar select live stream camera for East Main Location.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the Overcomer's Church of Faith, P.O. Box 81 Rixford, PA, 16745.
Online condolences can be made by going to www.hollenbeckcahill.com
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.