Crestle Watson - Obituary

restle Watson, Sr. was born in Tipton County, Tennessee on November 26, 1931 to the late George and Ethel Watson. He attended the Cooper School and later Millington Junior High School. He was baptized and joined St. Mark Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Arthur Williams, at 15 years of age. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1950. On July 29, 1950, he joined the United States Air Force and attended basic training in San Antonio, Texas. He was assigned to the Security Police Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida where he was stationed for four years. In September 1952, he married Annie Lee Brown of Millington, TN. In 1954, he was transferred, with family in tow, to Nagoya Komaki Air Force Base, Nagoya, Japan, where he and the family remained for three years. In 1957, he was transferred to Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC, where he and the family lived until being transferred to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, in 1962. Once that two-year tour was complete, they moved back to the States, returning to Bolling Air Force Base. In 1968, he was assigned to Kunsan Air Force Base in Korea, where he served while his family remained in Maryland. He returned to Bolling in August 1970 and retired on September 19, 1970. He began working for the United States Secret Service on September 26, 1970. He worked under six U.S. Presidential Administrations, supported visits to the United States of countless foreign leaders and diplomatic officials, traveled to numerous destinations domestically and internationally in support of dozens of senior U.S. officials, and helped ensure that events such as Presidential Conventions and United Nations Meetings were conducted safely. He retired from the Secret Service in December 1996. He also served as an usher at Bolling Air Force Base Chapel for more than 40 years. His greatest loves included spending time with family and working in the yard. He also enjoyed listening to music, especially the Blues. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Annie Lee Watson, 2 sons -- Crestle Watson Jr. (Debra), Michael Watson (Ingrid), 3 daughters -- Denise W. Johnson (Allen), Carol Watson, LaTricia C. W. Johnson (Craig), and dear family friend -- Ethel Hayden. He was preceded in death by 1 daughter -- Marsha Diane Watson Milburn, 3 sisters -- Betty, Lois and Vernice, and 4 brothers -- Charlie, Cornell, George, Jr. and John Lee. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren -- Ramon, Arnold, Kaitlyn, Monique, Abigail, Ahren, Eliana and Zhander, 4 great-grand children -- Kayla, Khayania, Ayshia, Ramontae, and 2 great-great grandchildren -- Zy’aire and Nova. He is also survived by 1 sister -- Bertha, and 2 brothers -- Morris Wilbert (Samella) and Joseph (Wafaa) along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from the Air Force, Secret Service and the community. Relatives and friends are invited to Crestle's Celebration of Life. On Thursday, July 11, 2024 there will be viewings from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill MD 20745. Funeral service will be held Friday, July 12, 2024 at South Potomac Church 4915 Robert S. Crain Hwy, White Plains, MD 20695. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. until the start of the service at 11 a.m. The service will also be livestreamed at: http://youtube.com/@southpotomacchurch?si=V__vmt-gJutCbvE6 (Select the Live tab). Interment with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 9 a.m.