Wiley Joseph (Joe) Watson

Wiley Joe Watson, age 82, of Lexington, Welcome community passed from this life Saturday, February 14, 2015. Funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Thursday (February 19, 2015) at Center United Methodist Church, where he was a faithful member with Rev. Dr. Stephen Pillsbury officiating. Burial will follow at Center United Methodist Cemetery, with Masonic graveside rites by Lexington Memorial Lodge 473. The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon at Davidson Funeral Home from 4-6 pm. Joe was born in Ashe County, NC, August 1, 1932 to Roy Watson and Callie Elliott Watson. He was a retired employee of Stroh’s Brewery with 26 years of service; after retirement, he was owner and operator of Watson Bee Supply where he took great pleasure in talking to all his customers and beekeeper friends. He loved taking care of his own honeybees, his little heard of fainting goats, camping and NASCAR. At his church he was a member of The Goodwill Sunday School Class. He was a proud Mason and member of Lexington Memorial Lodge 473; the Lexington Shrine Club and Scottish Rite. He served his country in the US Army having served during the Korean War. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step father, Ralph Gentry and a brother James Odis Watson. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janet Bledsoe Watson of the home; sons, Steven Mark Watson of Lexington, Kevin Joseph Watson (Xenia) of Winston Salem; grandchildren, Bailey Watson Wingler (Dustin) of Salisbury, Stevie Watson Oldham (Chris) of Lexington and Callie Marie Watson of Winston Salem; great-grandchildren, Zeplin and Killian Wingler, Nash Oldham; sister, Gladys Clanton of Elkin; sisters in laws, Dorothy Bledsoe of Lexington and Ailene Watson of Holden Beach; brother in law, Doug Bledsoe (Brenda) of Winston Salem; two special people in his life, Patsy Bledsoe and Tami Watson Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, c/o Lexington Shrine Club, 113 Holiday Drive, Lexington, NC 27295.