Dale R. Watson, 81, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away peacefully August 26, 2013.

Dale started life in Pensacola, Florida back in 1932. Due to his father’s work he lived and was schooled in several places, most notably, Pensacola, Fl. Mobile, AL, Houston, TX, and Independence, MO. Dale was an Eagle Scout & Scout Master. He married his wife, Martisha Potter, in 1950 and joined the Air Force shortly after. He spent his service time in Phoenix, Arizona and also a year in Iceland. He finished his tour of duty in California and returned to Phoenix and completed his education at Arizona State University.

Dale then returned to the Kansas City, Missouri area and became a licensed Architect in Kansas and Missouri and subsequently was licensed in Florida. Dale moved from Kansas City and was in individual practice in Camdenton, Missouri for about 10 years. Following that he spent approximately 20 years with a hospital design and build group which built hospitals nationwide. He left the “work-a-day world” in 1993 and moved to Port Charlotte where he has been engaged in volunteer work ever since. Dale has served as a member of the Charlotte County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals since 1994.

He has been a Master Gardener with the Charlotte County Extension service since 1995. Dale was in charge of the Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden in Punta Gorda, and was President of Friends of the Extension. The master Gardeners were on the Anne Henderson Show, The Original Charlotte County Speaks 1580 AM monthly. Anne is noted to have dubbed Dale as “The Jolly Green Giant,” Ken Lovejoy later took over the show. Dale has been a member of the Charlotte County Curmudgeon Club for about 6 years and served as President to the time of his death. The Club members also wrote a column for this paper once monthly. Dale was a regular guest on Charlotte County Speaks with Ken. Dale was also instrumental in Candidate Forums & Town Hall Meetings, and was a lifelong Republican, also joining the Tea Party movement attending the Punta Gorda Tea Party. Dale was President of the Englewood area Mac Users Group (EaMUG) for a short time, ending as Social Chairman & Vice President to his death.

Dale is survived by his wife Martisha M. Watson, daughter Amy K. Watson, both of Port Charlotte, Florida, son, Jonathan M. Watson & daughter-in-law Lisa A. (Wilkinson) Watson; three grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Watson, Tyler Scott Watson and Morgan Taylor Watson. One grandson preceded him in death July 2012, Nicholas Jonathan Watson age 18. Son and family live in St. Peters, Missouri. Dale is also preceded in death by both parents Luther Dale Watson and Rowena Mae (Vickrey) Watson, his sister Sylvia Marion (Watson) Stover, and her husband Carl Stover, and his niece Vikki Dale (Arbeiter) Pollard.

A Memorial service celebrating Dale’s life will be held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Community of Christ, 368 Herron Rd., in North Fort Myers, FL 33903. Military Honors will be performed by the U.S. Air Force.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dale’s name to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 495126, Port Charlotte, FL 33949 or to Honor/Memorial Gifts on line at www.salvationarmy.org.

Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.