James Roy Watterson, a native son and lifelong resident of East Dallas, died Monday after a fall at the home he had occupied for 67 years. He was 87.
He grew up the only child of James L. and Jewell Watterson. He married Gladys Ella “Pat” Londenberg, a fellow graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, on May 5, 1950, and they raised three children, Mike, Tim and Cathy, who grew up surrounded by an extended, loving family. Their childhood included yearly visits to the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and other mountainous western states.
Mr. Watterson worked in the garment industry of Dallas when it was booming, and then, when it wasn’t, as a jailer for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. After retirement, he doted on his grandchildren and numerous pets, at least when he wasn’t playing golf.
He lost the love of his life in 2013, and spent the time since then cherishing her memory and missing her every day.
Survivors include his children and their spouses, Mike and Alicia, Tim and Susan, and daughter Cathy; grandchildren, Erin Stripling and husband Wes and children, Jacob and Kaelyn, Angela Watterson and fiancé Esteban Ortiz, Chris Jenkins and wife Jamie and son Maison, and Alayna Laudermilk and husband Justin and children Emma, Jaxon and Brooklyn; and several nephews, nieces and cousins
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