Robert "Bob" Watson

Robert Lynn Watson (Bob), age 78, died peacefully just before midnight on November 26, 2021, at the Overland Park Care Center after a long battle with dementia. Bob was born to Lamonte Dempsey Watson and Eva Ardela Lynn Watson on February 23, 1943, in Coffeyville, Kansas. After the death of his father when he was three, Bob was raised by his mother and aunt “Teedle,” and developed a father-son relationship with his uncle Pat.

Even as a boy Bob was interested in building design, designing a floor plan for his first hospital at the age of 10. In his youth, he actively participated in Boy Scouts before graduating from Joplin Senior High School. Bob left Joplin to earn a master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, under Professor E. Fay Jones, a former apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose work influenced Bob’s residential architectural style. It was here that Bob met Rita Glover, his first wife of 16 years and other lifetime friends whom he joined at “deer camp” every November, never killing one. For Bob, deer camp was a time to commune with friends, nature, bourbon and snickers, with no casualties.

During Bob’s long career as an architect in Kansas City and in Seattle, he led the design of hospitals, aviation facilities, municipal buildings, convention centers, sports venues and more for local, national and international architectural firms, including HNTB, HOK SVE (now Populous) and DLR. Bob married his second wife of 20 years, Stephanie Graham, in 1984, with whom he shared 2 children, Max and Cybil.

In his spare time Bob designed a coffee table for his father-in-law, Jim Graham, who built several of them for himself and family members. Jim and Bob enjoyed spending time together golfing, fishing with the children, grilling and shucking oysters while having a beer and discussing travel. He collected books on Frank Lloyd Wright, History of Cathedrals and Dale Chihuly; for many years he also collected miniature trains. Bob also enjoyed family excursions to the San Juan and Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Beaver Lake, Eureka Springs, Mount Rainier, British Columbia, Snoqualmie Falls and Powell Gardens. He also loved the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, river floats, train rides, art galleries and museums. Bob served in the Army Reserves and was a member of the American Institute of Architects, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design Alumnae and a generous contributor to Powell Gardens.

Preceding Bob in death are his parents and first wife, Rita Watson. Bob is survived by and will be remembered by his children Michael (Max) Watson, Cybil Watson and their mother Stephanie Graham.

Please share a fond memory of Bob for the family on this webpage.

A celebration of Bob’s life is being planned for late February 2022. Let us know if you if would like to be notified of the event under “Receive Notifications” on this webpage.