Chester Watts

Chester was born in Blocker Oklahoma on March 27, 1928 to Lilburn Chester Watts and Annie Lear Pilgrim Watts. He was the oldest of 4 children. During the great depression Chester’s family moved to California to find work. Chester enlisted in the army and served in the 11th Airborne during WWII in Japan. After the war was over, he came back to Oklahoma and met Loretta Meaders, while she was attending college. The two were married in Arpelar, Oklahoma on November 21, 1948. Chester and Loretta settled in Alameda California and on February 8, 1950 had their one and only child, Rhonda. That same year Chester was called back into active duty to serve in the Korean War. After the war was over Chester, Loretta and Rhonda lived in Alameda until 1957, when they made the decision to move to Amarillo Texas. For a short time, Chester served on the police force in Amarillo before finding his true calling, driving a truck. He drove a truck for Transcon and in 1968 transferred to Oklahoma City. Sometime in the early 70’s, Chester began working for Time DC earning 2 -Million Mile jackets for safety. In 1974, Chester and Loretta built a house in Norman, Oklahoma where they had finally found home. In 1980, Time DC transferred Chester to El Paso, Texas so they leased their house and moved to El Paso, where they lived for two years until Time DC closed their doors. Chester and Loretta came back home to Norman where he retired in 1990 from Mid America Farm Lines.

Chester and Loretta loved to travel and had a camping trailer for all their adventures. In his retirement years, Chester drove cars for the local car dealerships and he and Loretta helped build churches. They have been members of Blue Lakes Baptist Church since 1973 when John Fleming became the pastor. He loved a good western book, he had read every Louis Lamour book several times. He loved any OU sports but was especially fond of the OU Softball Team.

Chester never met a stranger and always had a story.

Chester is preceded in death by both of his parents, his brother Charles, brother Legus and sister Margie. His cherished wife Loretta, daughter Rhonda and son in law David Gene Harjo. He is survived by his granddaughter Tracey Garrett, her husband Patrick and their 3 children Jordan, Spencer and Peyton, as well as many, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be at Blue Lakes Baptist Church in Norman Oklahoma on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM with the internment to follow at Pryor Cemetery in Stuart Oklahoma. Pall Bearers are Brad Burks, Brent Burks and Blake Burks, Mike Coburn, Rick Laminack, Nathan Meaders, Wade Meaders, Brett Watts and Larry Watts.

His granddaughter Tracey and her family would like to sincerely thank Ron and Austilene Borum for everything they did to help Chester over the years, Frontier Hospice and their incredible staff, especially his nurse Wanda and finally albeit ever so brief, the phenomenal Norman Veterans Center for everything they did for Chester the 3 days he was there.

Praise the Lord, he is finally home!!!