Harry Watts

Harry was born in Ridgeville, Ontario July 29, 1923. He was the 5th of 6 children born to Zilpha and Thomas Watts. As a young boy he helped work alongside his family at Watts Nursery. He served his country with pride during WWII as a dispatch rider delivering messages that were too sensitive or top secret to be sent via telegraph or telephone. He chronicled those experiences in his book The Dispatch Rider, selling over 4,000 copies. The profit he donated to various charities over the years, starting with New Dawn School, where he was fondly called Grandpa New Dawn and most recently the National Service Dogs who provide their dogs to children with autism and veterans with PTSD. He was active and influential with NSD for many years.

Harry worked most of his life in the transportation industry; he was also a businessman, writer, poet, sculptor, gourmet cook, Citizenship Court official greeter, memory project speaker, peace activist, and very proud Canadian. He enjoyed riding his Vespa-style scooter until he was 89, and a strong supporter of the Ride For Dad each year he was able. First and foremost he was a family man who expressed his love continually. He was also a man of strong faith and his love of God sustained him throughout his life.

Harry loved to travel especially across his beloved Canada. The only province or territory he had not toured was Newfoundland and that was still on his to-do list. He and his beloved wife Leila saw much of the world together and enjoyed providing travelogues and slide shows of the adventures at various branches of KPL. His most recent tour came in 2017 when he travelled to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge.

Harry is predeceased by parents Thomas and Zilpha Watts, siblings Zilpah, Richard, Thomas and Hilda and wife Leila, the love of his life for almost 57 years.

He is survived by children Roy Watts and Laura Nahls (Roy), grandchildren Benjamin Deacon (Treana), Laura Brunton-Lewis (Sam), Jeremy Watts, Donovan Watts (Erin) and Dylan Watts (Rachel) and sister June Fraser, Niagara Falls. One of his greatest “promotions” in life was to that of Great-Grandfather, or GG and his love knew no bounds for Kamden, Megan, Kaylee, Alijah, Sophie, Kayden and most recent addition to the family great-grandson, Austin.

Harry always loved a “good party”. A celebration of a life lived large will be held at Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre, 1001 Ottawa St. S Kitchener, ON Sunday March 17. Visitation at 11am, service at noon followed by reception. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to National Service Dogs at a special site set up in Harry’s memory. Details at the funeral home or link below https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1327&AID=5384