FRANKLIN—Franklin Gill Watson, 65, passed away on March 17, 2015.

Frank was a lifelong resident of Franklin, the youngest of four children of the late John Belin Watson Sr. and Ella Wade Watson, and was predeceased by a sister, Joan W. Belote, and a brother, George Wade Watson Sr.

He was a member of Franklin Baptist Church, and was retired from the Environmental Department at International Paper.

He was a former Virginia National Guardsman, and was an honorary member and former engineer with the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 41 years, Patsy Holt Watson; two daughters, Helen Burgess and her husband, Jim, of Streetsboro, Ohio, and Angela Watson of Richmond; two grandsons, Dylan and Tomlin Burgess, who affectionately knew him as “PAP-PAW;” one brother, John Belin Watson, Jr. of Franklin; three sisters-in-law, Ann Sanford, Carol Billups (Milton) and Donna Holt; one brother-in-law, Charles Holt (Teressa); many nieces and nephews; and his beloved pet, Bentley.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 20, in Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Hoyle Green officiating. The burial will follow at Poplar Spring Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home, and suggests that memorial donations be made to the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department or the American Heart Association.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org