George Donald Watson

George Watson entered into rest May 4, 2022 at Princess Gardens in Peterborough at 100 years of age. Sad that he is gone, but celebrating his life, are his son-in-law and best friend William Gaulin along with his wife Helen, and his grandaughter Kathleen Gaulin and her love Adrian Griffiths. He was sweetheart and husband of 67 years to June Watson (nee Smith, deceased), dearly loved father to Susan Gaulin (nee Watson, deceased), and loving partner to Elaine Hamilton (deceased). Brother to John (deceased), Gladys (deceased), Margaret (deceased), and Elsie; he leaves behind many much loved nieces and nephews throughout Canada including his much loved nieces Anne Walker, Margaret Owens, Kathleen Owens-Cusimano, and Sandy Owens.

A vibrant, curious, and hardworking man, he was dedicated to learning and bettering himself. A veteran of WWII, George proudly served in the army and later as a pilot with the RCAF. A man of curiosity with a thirst for knowledge, he worked many jobs in his lifetime: catching gophers and bringing in their tails for a nickel in the 1920s, delivering papers for multitudinous routes to help support his family during the depression, learning how to wire homes for electricity and after the war working for Hydro as a linesman, eventually serving as foreman over the building of the Volta River power dam in Ghana, and later in Peterborough and Toronto until his retirement in 1982. George then built homes with a friend of his for a period of time while serving as president of the Senior Citizen’s Council and Activity Haven. He took computer programming courses at Trent University as he firmly believed they were the way of the future. George was a gifted carpenter designing and building beautiful pieces of furniture and carving birds and animals. He was a talented painter and sculptor who always loved the arts. He was a sailor in his retirement, a golfer and curler for many years belonging to the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. George was a skilled speaker and was always good for a story as well as many speaking opportunities on his flying machines and adventures in the air. He was that rarest of creatures – a truly self-made man. He made amazing pancakes and crafted only the best snowmen. He had a tender heart, a ready laugh, a keen mind, loved to exercise (still doing his military calisthenics into his 80s), and was generous and loving. His philosophy – “You cannot buy self-esteem, you have to earn it”.

Visitation to be held at Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre, 356 Rubidge St., Peterborough at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022 with a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 p.m., reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Centennial Place Heritage Program.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com for the Watson family.