THOMASTON — After a period of declining health, Robert F. Watts, Jr. (Bob, Bobby), age 94, slipped away from us as the sun came up on Saturday morning March 16, 2024. His daughters Kerry and Kim, and son-in-law Joe, were at his side, loving him every minute of his journey.

Born in the Watts family home on Christmas Day 1929, Bob lived in Thomaston his whole life, attending Thomaston Schools and graduating with the Class of 1948. He worked with his family on their dairy farm, shoveled snow for the town, was a baseball and basketball athlete, and served in the US Navy during the Korean War.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Enid Stanley, in 1952; they had two daughters, Kerry, and Kimberly, and two granddaughters, Kiara and Kelsey.

Bob worked several jobs before buying a truck and running his own rubbish removal business for many years. He continued to help people move, painted steeples and flag poles, cut down trees, and did whatever anyone needed.

He started driving a school bus for SAD 50 in 1968, a job he loved for over 45 years. Some of his fondest memories included driving the sports teams to games all over the State and especially the five State Championship Teams he brought home and the victory laps he took them on through Thomaston and around the Rockland Rotary. Win or lose, Bob always had words of encouragement for the kids and would often slip a few dollars into the pockets of those whose didn’t have enough to buy a burger on their own.

He was always kind and generous to everyone and taught by being a living example of how kind all people should be.

Bob cherished being with his family, he loved being down to camp, and he loved traveling. He was always game for trying new foods (the weirder and hotter the better) and being with friends. His family was always priority.

Bob was blessed with many families: his own, his school kids, the Stanley/Grants, and later the Polky family after he married Edna Polky Williams in 1987. This union happily added Edna’s three daughters, Cyndi, Wendy, and Tracy, and four grandchildren, Crispin, Jasmine, Sam, and Ethan into Bob’s life.

His door was always open and welcoming; the more the merrier. Holiday gatherings, and lobster feeds down at camp were times he enjoyed immensely with whoever was there. Large or small groups, he was always the perfect host. Last spring, at the encouragement of his VA caregiver Liz Dinsmore to apply, Bob was invited to go on an Honor Flight with fellow veterans to Washington, DC. He thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this trip, and the time spent with Kerry, who served as his travel guardian. In July, Bob was selected to be the Grand Marshall of the Thomaston 4th of July Parade, another honor he truly appreciated and enjoyed. Over the years there were many gestures of appreciation extended to him for all he did for his community and he was always humble and never thought he was more deserving than anyone else.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Mildred and Robert Watts, Sr.; sisters Willimenna Watts and Ida Lindsey; his second wife, Edna; and son-in-law Kenneth Jacobson.

He is survived by his daughters Kerry Watts Weber and her partner Chris Richards, her daughters Kiara and Kelsey Weber; daughter Kimberly Watts Payne and her husband Joseph Payne; stepdaughters Cyndi Goodnow, her children Crispin and Jasmine Goodnow; Wendy Jacobson; Tracy Cooperman, her husband Brian and their sons Ethan and Sam; his brother, Bentley Watts, and his sister, Annie Thorndike; and many nieces and nephews.

He loved them all unconditionally and forever.

Friends and family are invited to visit Friday, April 12, 2024, from 3 to 4 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland, where a service will begin at 4 p.m. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall Post No. 37, 10 Watts Ave., Thomaston.

At Bob’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mid Coast School of Technology Scholarship Fund at 1 Main St. Rockland, ME 04841, in memory of Bob and Edna Watts.