Robert Dale Watson of Collinsville, Illinois was born on October 21, 1940 at St. Francis Hospital, Macomb, Illinois.  He was the eldest child of Hugh Brice Watson and Myrtle Eva Walker Watson of Macomb, Illinois.  Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Margaret Coleman Watson, and two siblings: a sister - (Myrtle) Jeanette  Annand of Greenville, South Carolina, and a brother and sister-in-law - Irvin "Doc" and Kathy Watson of Wauconda, Illinois as well as nieces, nephews, and many friends.  He was a member of Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Collinsville, Illinois.  Bob passed away on the morning of Saturday, February 26, 2022 from diabetic complications at the Highland Health Care Center, Highland, Illinois.  His parents preceded him in death.

Services celebrating Bob's life will be on Saturday, March 26 at the Barry Wilson Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m.  Visitation will be from 1:30 until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m.

Throughout most of Bob's life, he was known as "Doc" to many.  Likely, the Sherlock Holmes novels caused this because Holmes and Doctor Watson were pals (thus "Doc").   Bob shared the nickname with his brother (seven years his junior) who is also known as "Doc."

As a child, Bob joined the Calvary Baptist Church in Macomb.  His first employment was delivering newspapers to homes in Macomb.

In 1958, Bob graduated from Macomb High School.  He played clarinet in the high school's Marching Band.  Bob was very proud that there was a year when the band was invited to march in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California (the year is unknown although it had to be between 1955 and 1958).  Unfortunately, funds were not available for the travel, and the band could not go.

After high school, Bob attended WIU with a major in business.  Bob and a best friend bought, repaired, and sold cars as a side business.  For a few hours a week, a filling station also hired him for car repair and customer service.  Bob got his CDL License so he could tow mobile homes constructed in Indiana for a Macomb dealership.

In 1964, he was drafted into the Army and served at the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Air Base (an airport), Germany, where he greeted inbound officers arriving there by airplane.  Every work day, Bob wore a dress uniform because of the importance of his duty.  He also cut orders for the officers prior to their landings.  The origin of those orders were dictated to Bob by the Pentagon via his "Red Phone" (there were two - one red phone in his room and another in his office).  Because of surgery on his right knee in 1966 by the military (a basic training injury) in Germany, he was cut off from continuing with the Army although his superiors had wanted him to go to Officer's Candidate School.

Bob's career with the U.S. Postal Service began part time in Macomb in about 1960.  When he returned to Macomb after his Army stint in 1966, he continued carrying mail for the U.S. Postal Service. While delivering mail to WIU off campus housing, he met his future bride, Margaret Coleman, who lived off campus on Calhoun Street.  He liked the cookies she baked for him -- perhaps it was "love at first bite"?   With romance in their hearts, they both enjoyed cruising in his new 1967 Plymouth Belvidere convertible.  They were united in marriage on April 1, 1967 at the Rural Street Presbyterian Church, Rockford, Illinois.

Bob also worked in several other positions with the postal service which included Postmaster at Vandalia, Illinois (he retired in 1997).  After his retirement, he worked a variety of jobs including Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Fairmount Park, and Enterprise Rental Car Reservations in St. Louis.  He also took classes at Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, Illinois and studied "Heating and Cooling."  He briefly attended St. John's Community Care (Day Care Program for Adults) in 2021-2022.

The family sends thanks to the staffs of Highland Health Care Center, Highland, Illinois and to ProMedica/Heartland Hospice Care of Fairview Heights for Bob's final care.

Burial will be in the Coleman family plot near Mrs. Watson's parents' graves (S. David and Ruth Coleman) at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Sandwich, Illinois.  Burial services will be private.

Visitation is planned from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, Maryville, Illinois.  Funeral services will follow the Visitation at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. If there are changes due to the weather or for another unforeseen reason, please review this website (Bob's obituary page) on or after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Memorials for Mr. Watson should be made by check and payable to Meadow Heights Baptist Church.  The Memorials will be used for the continuation of Rev. Dale Clemens' legacy.  His daughter, Kim Clemens Martin, is compiling and printing writings and sermons taken from his files.  At Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Rev. Clemens was Senior Pastor from August 1970 through December 1997, and he was Pastor of Pastoral Care from February 2001 thru December 2008.  Pastor Clemens sermons were instrumental in attracting the Bob Watsons to attend and eventually to join Meadow Heights Baptist Church.

The family is being served by the Barry Wilson Funeral Home, Maryville, Illinois.