Shirley Ann Watson

Shirley Ann Watson, 85, of New Philadelphia, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2020 in Cleveland Clinic following a recent illness.

A daughter of the late Charles and Roseann (Burton) Rothacher, Shirley was born March 6, 1935 at Dover, Ohio.

Shirley graduated from Dover High School in 1953. On August 30, 1953, she married Richard A. Watson and together they raised three sons, Dennis, Randall and Kelly. The couple shared 38 years of marriage prior to Richard’s passing on September 27, 1991.

She and Richard had a love for traveling with some of their favorite destinations being Europe, Hawaii and Aruba. Following Richard’s passing, she wintered in Siesta Key, Florida up until January 2019. Shirley had a group of lifetime friends that she cherished. Many of those friends were also former classmates that she enjoyed many luncheons with over the years. Most of all, Shirley loved her family and took great joy in attending the sporting and various other events of her grandchildren.

Shirley will be remembered for her sweet personality who was always happy. Also, for being meticulous in everything she did, including decorating her home and her personal attire.

She is survived by her sons, Dennis (Elois) Watson, Randall (Jill) Watson and Kelly (Michelle) Watson all of New Philadelphia; her grandchildren, Chad (Julie) Watson, Sara (Steve) Hall, Jay (Molly) Watson, Anne (Dr. Vladimir) Merunka, Tyler Watson, Christopher (Brook) Watson and Matthew (Allison) Watson and her great-grandchildren, Aubrie and Allie Watson, Ethan and Morgan Hall, Caroline, Evie and Stella Watson, identical twin grandsons, Maksym and Viktor Merunka, and Zoey Watson.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; a sister, Betty Lou Rothacher; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert “Swiss” and Dorothy Rothacher; a step-sister, Goldie Barcroft and a step-brother, Tom Barcroft.

Private family services will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Interment will take place in East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia.

Contributions may be made in Shirley’s memory to Broadway United Methodist Church, 120 Church Avenue SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.