Virgil E. Watson

Virgil E. Watson, 85, of Stockport, died on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Sunnybrook Assisted Living, in Fairfield.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Stockport United Methodist Church, with Rev. Herb Shafer and Rev. John Griffith officiating. Visitation will open at 2 p.m., on Thursday, at Pedrick Funeral Home, in Keosauqua, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Spencer Cemetery, in Stockport.

Memorials to Spencer Cemetery may be left at the funeral home, church or mailed to the family at 3000 West Madison, Apt. 201, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Watson was born on April 23, 1931, on the family farm north of Stockport, the son of Cleo and Mamie Wilson Watson. He graduated from Stockport High School in 1948. On Dec. 14, 1950, he was united in marriage with Darleen Mckee at the Stockport Methodist Church. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard for 10 years.

Following high school, he worked at a factory in Fairfield. He then worked for Shorty and Ike Workman at the Stockport Oil Company. In 1966, he became half owner of a plumbing, heating and electrical business with Kester Jones. He sold his business in 1990 and continued to work in the business until his retirement in 1996.

He enjoyed playing cards, camping, square dancing, following the Iowa Hawkeyes and the St. Louis Cardinals, and spending time with his friends and family.

Watson is survived by his wife, Darleen; a daughter, Annita (Richard) Rettig, of Tripoli; a son, Jan (Mary) Watson, of Urbandale; a sister, Eileen Harper, of Fairfield; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Brent Watson; a sister, Helen (Harold) Syfert; and a brother, Melvin (Marcelene) Watson.