Thomas Robert Watson

Thomas Robert Watson was born on May 20th, 1944, in Newnan, Georgia blessing his loving parents, Jennie Tolbert Watson and Joe W. Watson with their first son. Young Tom Watson enjoyed his childhood with his older sister, Jeannie, and his younger brother Joe, growing up in Georgia until his family moved to Houston, Texas in late forty’s.

Tom had an early love and passion for music – starting his own band, the “Valkyries” – at age 14 with his brother. Joe went onto become a professional singer with Tom as his biggest fan and Tom continued to play the guitar throughout his life.

Deeply committed to our country, Tom joined the United States Air force where he excelled as an Airman Second Class, also volunteering for the space project (“S.A.M.”) conducted at Brooks AFB in San Antonio. During this time, Tom deepened his roots in Texas further spending time on the Guadalupe River and the Texas Hill Country.

In Tom’s early career, he found the “car business” – in which he developed a sought-after expertise in automotive, service, sales and business ownership in Houston, Clear Lake, and Florida. As the consummate salesman, he derived immense pleasure in teaching newcomers the auto business – and did so regularly, creating many life-long friends in the process. Never meeting a stranger, Tom’s knowledge of cars and innate ability to talk, enabled a successful career that spanned four decades.

In 1982, Tom met Pamela Ann Vick whom he fell madly in love with, proposing to Pam four times – successfully marrying her in May of 1984. Tom and Pam shared a love of each other, family, and their beloved pets (Morris, Cricket, Trouble, Java, Hilo, Choco, and Leo). Residing in Clear Lake for majority of their beautiful life together, they also shared a wonderful decade together in St. Petersburg, Florida. Together, they have enjoyed travel, golf, music, movies, dancing, playing dominoes, boating, cooking, and making the very most of life together. Music continued to play daily in their home with Tom’s favorite singer remaining as Willie Nelson and Mickey Gilley in a close second. Tom’s love for Pam was truly a blessing to behold and an inspiration to those around them.

Tom also took extraordinary pride in his daughter, Susan Vick Dinges, who was another constant in their life – sharing laughter, holidays, high spirited games of moon, college football, travel, and a deep sense of the gift that our family represented. As an avid golfer, Tom taught both Pam and “Susie” how to play golf. He was the biggest champion of her life and career.

In Tom’s retirement, he maximized his ability to befriend all…. And talk! Known as the “Mayor,” Tom took immense joy in meeting and be-friending each neighbor in their community. Tom was enthusiastic about the Houston Astros, the Texas Aggies, and with the long-awaited arrival of his son in law, Dan Dinges, he would also tune into the Texas Longhorns. Tom’s conservative values led him to a robust passion for Fox News, which was a daily shared routine with Pam along with reading the Houston Chronicle cover to cover. Incredibly special to Tom, and later in life, he cultivated a voracious love of reading, especially enjoying John Grisham and James Patterson.

In recent years, Tom and Pam’s love deepened even further facing Tom’s victorious and miraculous battles with cancer together – sharing the task and gift, of taking care of one another through health challenges - always with love, commitment, gratitude, grace, and God first.

Tom is a man of God, an adoring and loving husband, devoted father and brother, and loyal friend to all. Tom is survived by his wife - Pamela Ann Watson, his daughter – Susan Vick Dinges, his son in law – Dan Oren Dinges, his great grandchildren – Tucker Mason & Dani Marie Renfro, his beloved sister - Jeannie Pearson & family, extended family, and his cherished friends and neighbors.

“Yeah, Buddy” – you will be deeply missed but we WILL see you soon.