Joseph Wesley Watson went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Joseph was born to Hunter Lowe Watson and Mamie Rose Watson on October 10, 1935 on a farm where Dulles Airport now resides. He spoke fondly of his youth and often recalled spending cold winter days as a child feeding and holding the many chicks in their brooder house. He went on to form many cherished friendships and was the true definition of a "good Joe". There is a saying that goes "a meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated, or being perfect – it's about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others". Joe was the truest embodiment of those words.

Joe was in the last graduating class of Loudoun County High School where he met and would go on to marry his loving wife of 68 years, Patricia. In the 11th grade, Joe became very ill and was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever and was given only a few months to live. But, with his characteristic grit and determination, he was able to make a full recovery and go on to fulfill the dream of buying his first car.

As a teen, he would do odd jobs for other farmers in his neighborhood to keep busy in the summers. One day, out of boredom and curiosity, he and his sister, Virginia, decided to see what it was like to smoke corn. That evening at the dinner table, their father – with a slight chuckle – commented, "I was up in the hay loft and thought the field was on fire". Being the kind and understanding person he was, he never spoke another word of the incident.

Joe's first earnings went to purchase his mom an electric stove so she would no longer have to cook on a wood stove in the heat of the summer. Joe was hardworking and a perfectionist to a fault. He worked long hours doing what he loved the most. He started his career as a backhoe operator for his brother, Hunter Jr., and went on to become a self-employed excavating contractor for 40 years. Joe became bored with retirement, and it wasn't long before he decided to return to what he loved to do. He found work with his dear friend, John Stanford, and worked another 20 years in the same field of business. When not working, he enjoyed mowing and tending to his vegetable and flower gardens. He also found pleasure in crow hunting and long walks through the woods with longtime and dear friend, Tad Curry, who was like a son to him. Going out west with his brother, Ralph, and friends, Kelsey and Steve Boyd, Billy Lawson, and Zane Lawson, were some of his fondest memories. Joe also loved banjo music and would even strum along in the air with his fingers, much to the amusement of those around him. Joe was known to eat the occasional pork rind (but who doesn't?), and had a lifelong love of beagles, hit-and-miss engines, and the Andy Griffith Show.

He was a fun and caring father to Janice, Shelly, and Patti, and created lasting memories that they will cherish. Sadly, he lost his middle daughter, Shelly, to cancer in 2004. It hurt him deeply, but he kept that pain to himself. We find comfort in knowing that they are reunited. He was also a loving grandfather to MaryLynn, Joey, Emily, and Jacob. Though they lived far away, he thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together.

Though we are grieving, and we don't quite know what our future will look like without him, we will stay strong and hold him close in our hearts, knowing that is what he would have wanted.

Lastly - but far from being least - we would like to offer a sincere thank you to everyone at Heritage Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation who showed our family kindness, compassion, and care in the final months of our husband and father's extraordinary yet humble life. We will forever be grateful.

The Watson family will receive guests at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg on Monday, March 10th beginning at noon, with a funeral service to start at 1:00 PM. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Union Cemetery.