Richard C. Watters, 87
Richard Carl Watters, 87, of 323 Maple St. passed away about 1 p.m. July 22, 2010, at Haven Convalescent Home after a three-week residence there.
He was born the eldest son of Richard L. Watters and Mildred Jane Park Watters on Aug. 17, 1922, in New Castle, where he continued to reside his entire life.
On May 29, 1948, Carl married the former Mary Capp, a marriage that lasted 62 years and ended with her death on Jan. 29 of this year.
Reared on Lutton Street and educated in New Castle public schools, he thoroughly enjoyed life in New Castle. Through his middle age, he continued to be a fan of New Castle High football and attended many home games.
A fond childhood memory was of attending President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inauguration. The trip was made alone at age 9 and completed entirely over the Pennsylvania Railroad through the kind auspices of conductors of the railroad with whom his father, a PRR employee, had networked.
He began his working career prior to World War II while in his last year of high school with A&P Tea Co., an association that was to last 45 years.
Richard was an Army veteran. He was inducted on Dec. 16, 1942, and trained at Camp Reynolds near Meadville before shipping out for England. He was in London during the blitz and related stories of the plight of the English civilians. He participated in the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach on the third day of the invasion. He fought as a Browning automatic rifleman through the hedgerow area of Normandy, where he received a slight leg wound that he never officially reported. He was transferred to the Headquarters Detachment of the U.S. Forces European Theater and operated out of Brussels, Belgium, frequently carrying communications by jeep to Paris. He and his squad were on one such mission when they were trapped behind German lines during the Battle of the Bulge for more than a week.
Among other decorations, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European-African Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, and the Army Award Third Class, presented by the Belgian government for service to their country.
Upon his return from the war, he continued his career with A&P as produce manager. His thorough knowledge of fruits and vegetables, and his dedication to the company was exceptional and earned him many awards for sales and efficiency. He was one of the few who really loved his work, and particularly the association with the public that is provided.
He enthusiastically indulged in but one pastime, bowling.
He was Catholic.
Richard is survived by two sons, Richard D. Watters and wife Lydia of Howard, Pa., and Randall S. Watters of New Castle; a sister; Shirley June Coxson and husband Delbert of Farrell; and Richard and Lydia’s sons, Daniel P. and Ian R. Watters.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, George, Melvin and Lloyd, the latter having died in infancy.
Visitation will be tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon at the Ed and Don DeCarbo Funeral Home and Crematory, 3000 Wilmington Road.
A funeral ceremony will be conducted tomorrow at noon at the funeral home. The Rev. Thomas Lewandowski, pastor of St. Camillus Church, will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by the New Castle Area Veterans Honor Guard at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.
This obituary may be viewed and online condolences offered by visiting www.decarbofuneralhome.com.
Contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Please sign the guestbook at www.ncnewsonline.com.
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