Obituary for Donald Edward Watts
Donald Edward “Ed” Watts was born on November 30, 1944 in Marshall, Arkansas to Donald Leonard Watts, a young soldier, and 19 year old bride Irene Mattie Watts nee Knowles. Family lore says that he was born a “blue baby” and the doctor pronounced that he wouldn’t last until morning. His feisty grandma Knowles stopped the doctor in his tracks and told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to get back in there and do everything he could to save that baby. Obviously the doctor did, because Ed lived over 77 full and rich years.
His childhood was spent in various places in the country, from Arkansas to Kansas and eventually California. His favorite memories growing up were the hours he spent in the Sierra Nevada wandering the woods all day. He learned how to nab an unsuspecting trout with his bare hands and bring it home for his momma to fry up for dinner. He learned to be still and watch nature, something he loved all his life.
When his family moved to the area of Marysville, California, he learned to play many instruments, guitar, steel guitar, keyboards, harmonica, bass as well as being a talented singer. His band brought down the house, closing his high school’s talent show. He studied organ with a theater organist and never stopped trying to improve his musical skills his whole life long.
He entered the Navy during Vietnam and served as a corpsman with the Marines. While stationed at Camp Pendleton Carolyn Higgins, the pastor’s daughter, caught his eye when he was playing organ at church. They married and while in Vietnam he got word that his daughter Lisa Sue was born. While he spent most of his time overseas on hospital duty, he also had to make some trips into the field, experiences he never talked about much.
After leaving the service he went into construction, showing great skill as a finish carpenter as well as doing concrete work. He sired a son, Mark Edward, followed by daughter Laurie Renee. He became a general contractor and worked on high-end properties in Rancho Santa Fe and other exclusive neighborhoods.
His marriage to Carolyn ended in 1985. He remarried in 1987, this time to Carol Wheeler. After that marriage ended in 1994, he took a job as an engineer at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City. While leading the praise team at East Valley Christian Fellowship in El Cajon, he met Valerie York, who became his bride in 2003. His wide-ranging skillset and sterling personal qualities resulted in him rising to the position of Director of Plant Operations at PVH before he retired in 2012.
Around 2016 Ed took his doctor’s advice and changed his lifelong eating habits, shedding 80 pounds and gaining a new spring in his step. While these lifestyle changes may not have added years to his life, they certainly added life to his years. He started a ministry at his church called “Body and Soul” to encourage others to dump processed foods and enjoy fruits, vegetables, and a brisk walk.
His hobbies and interests were eclectic and included, at various times: saltwater fishing, scuba diving, ham radio (NE6K), Tang Soo Do, photography, target shooting, painting, travel, cooking and nutrition alongside his prevailing passion of making music. He would delve into each field of interest deeply, achieving the highest ratings or levels he could. He loved all things digital and electronic and his expertise with gadgets and sound systems and computers and so much more was prodigious. He never stopped learning, including marathon sessions at “YouTube U” explaining outer space exploration or the building of the pyramids or different chord progressions for worship music. His desire always was that God be glorified. He loved using his gifts to encourage the church, last playing bass on the praise team at Quest Church in El Cajon on April 24.
In October 2021, Ed was found to have a rare liver cancer, even more surprising because he had no history of fatty liver, cirrhosis, or hepatitis. On May 10, 2022, with Valerie at his bedside, Ed went to pour out his praises to Jesus, his “Savior, Healer, Baptizer and Soon Coming King.”
Besides his wife Valerie, Ed is survived by his brother Brian Watts of Oroville, CA, children Lisa Navarro (Jose) of Oceanside, Mark Watts (Natasha) of Lynden, Washington, Laurie Watts of Susanville, CA, grandchildren Anthony Navarro of Bellingham, Washington, Elisabeth and Cecilia Watts of Lynden, WA, Travis Bresolin of Eureka, CA, Jacob Bresolin and Alyssa Watts of Susanville, CA. He is also survived by nephews Bobby Watts (Carin) of Surprise, AZ and James Watts of Roseville, CA.
A celebration of life will be held at Quest Church, 9590 Chocolate Summit Dr., El Cajon, CA 92021 at 3:30 p.m. June 5. A brief service with military honors will be at Miramar National Cemetery the following day.
His childhood was spent in various places in the country, from Arkansas to Kansas and eventually California. His favorite memories growing up were the hours he spent in the Sierra Nevada wandering the woods all day. He learned how to nab an unsuspecting trout with his bare hands and bring it home for his momma to fry up for dinner. He learned to be still and watch nature, something he loved all his life.
When his family moved to the area of Marysville, California, he learned to play many instruments, guitar, steel guitar, keyboards, harmonica, bass as well as being a talented singer. His band brought down the house, closing his high school’s talent show. He studied organ with a theater organist and never stopped trying to improve his musical skills his whole life long.
He entered the Navy during Vietnam and served as a corpsman with the Marines. While stationed at Camp Pendleton Carolyn Higgins, the pastor’s daughter, caught his eye when he was playing organ at church. They married and while in Vietnam he got word that his daughter Lisa Sue was born. While he spent most of his time overseas on hospital duty, he also had to make some trips into the field, experiences he never talked about much.
After leaving the service he went into construction, showing great skill as a finish carpenter as well as doing concrete work. He sired a son, Mark Edward, followed by daughter Laurie Renee. He became a general contractor and worked on high-end properties in Rancho Santa Fe and other exclusive neighborhoods.
His marriage to Carolyn ended in 1985. He remarried in 1987, this time to Carol Wheeler. After that marriage ended in 1994, he took a job as an engineer at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City. While leading the praise team at East Valley Christian Fellowship in El Cajon, he met Valerie York, who became his bride in 2003. His wide-ranging skillset and sterling personal qualities resulted in him rising to the position of Director of Plant Operations at PVH before he retired in 2012.
Around 2016 Ed took his doctor’s advice and changed his lifelong eating habits, shedding 80 pounds and gaining a new spring in his step. While these lifestyle changes may not have added years to his life, they certainly added life to his years. He started a ministry at his church called “Body and Soul” to encourage others to dump processed foods and enjoy fruits, vegetables, and a brisk walk.
His hobbies and interests were eclectic and included, at various times: saltwater fishing, scuba diving, ham radio (NE6K), Tang Soo Do, photography, target shooting, painting, travel, cooking and nutrition alongside his prevailing passion of making music. He would delve into each field of interest deeply, achieving the highest ratings or levels he could. He loved all things digital and electronic and his expertise with gadgets and sound systems and computers and so much more was prodigious. He never stopped learning, including marathon sessions at “YouTube U” explaining outer space exploration or the building of the pyramids or different chord progressions for worship music. His desire always was that God be glorified. He loved using his gifts to encourage the church, last playing bass on the praise team at Quest Church in El Cajon on April 24.
In October 2021, Ed was found to have a rare liver cancer, even more surprising because he had no history of fatty liver, cirrhosis, or hepatitis. On May 10, 2022, with Valerie at his bedside, Ed went to pour out his praises to Jesus, his “Savior, Healer, Baptizer and Soon Coming King.”
Besides his wife Valerie, Ed is survived by his brother Brian Watts of Oroville, CA, children Lisa Navarro (Jose) of Oceanside, Mark Watts (Natasha) of Lynden, Washington, Laurie Watts of Susanville, CA, grandchildren Anthony Navarro of Bellingham, Washington, Elisabeth and Cecilia Watts of Lynden, WA, Travis Bresolin of Eureka, CA, Jacob Bresolin and Alyssa Watts of Susanville, CA. He is also survived by nephews Bobby Watts (Carin) of Surprise, AZ and James Watts of Roseville, CA.
A celebration of life will be held at Quest Church, 9590 Chocolate Summit Dr., El Cajon, CA 92021 at 3:30 p.m. June 5. A brief service with military honors will be at Miramar National Cemetery the following day.