Ed Watson

Ed Watson, 73, passed away on Monday, June 26, 2017, in Indianapolis after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ed was born on July 18, 1943, in Casey County, Ky., the ninth of 11 children of Oral and Elsie Watson, the last family member to be born at home and the first to graduate high school and college.


As a youngster growing up on a farm, Ed loved baseball and basketball. One of his favorite Christmas gifts was a basketball, which, though he didn't know it at the time, was a sign of things to come. After high school, Ed earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Cumberland College, then went on to obtain his master's degree from Xavier University. For the next 40-plus years, Ed was an educator in Ohio, Kentucky and South Carolina, serving at various times as teacher, coach, counselor and assistant principal. At his first coaching job as an assistant at Sycamore High in Ohio, he was so young some of the staff ran him out of the gym because they thought he was a student. While coaching at Burgin High in Kentucky, he led that small school to upset wins over Mercer County and Harrodsburg, the first time in 18 years Burgin defeated either of those schools. He became the first head coach when McLean County schools consolidated, and then in 1983, he was hired as the first men's basketball coach and athletic director at Brescia College in Owensboro. Despite having limited resources, he not only helped improve the basketball program, but other Brescia programs as well.

Ed was also a mentor to many young people, providing them with the wisdom and direction that enabled them to succeed in life. While serving as teacher and assistant principal at Waccamaw High in Pawleys Island, S.C., he became one of the pioneers of Conflict Management/Peer Mediation programs. Ed always had a soft heart, and was a champion for kids so often overlooked or undervalued. It was his firm belief that with education and the support of a dependable mentor, every child could achieve his or her potential. Ed was a strong Christian who loved being part of Bible study groups. He was always involved with the church, and after retiring and moving to Indianapolis, he was appointed Director of Discipleship Training at his church. Because of his physical limitation, he began teaching Discipleship Training on-line through Facebook. That led him to what he would perhaps say was his greatest accomplishment. After establishing a remarkable connection to the people, Ed, at age 73, made the 22-hour flight to Nepal, giving him the chance to meet and spend time with his on-line friends, and to absorb the customs of that country. He was, in every way, one of the good people.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elmer and Mack Watson; sisters, Maria Newton and Freda Singleton; and daughter, Amy Reynolds.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Julia Wallace Watson; sons, Byron (Mary) Watson and Mark (Libby) Watson; daughters, Cindy (Mike) Caldwell and Sarah Small; eight grandchildren; sisters, Matrie Billings, Susan (Marvin) Godbey, Myrtle Russell and Maye Tridle; brothers, Tom (Ina) Watson and Vernie Watson; also brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Marilyn and Tom Wallace.

The funeral service will be 2 pm Saturday July 1 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, with Pastors Gary Stump and Silas Ripato officiating. Visitation will be after 10:30 am Saturday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to St. Vincent Foundation, Attn. St. Vincent Hospice, 8402 Harcourt Road Suite 210 Indianapolis, Indiana 46260.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.glenncares.com