Henry C. Watts, Sr.

Command Sergeant Major Henry C. Watts, Sr., (Ret), 86, of Asheville, died Monday, July 25, 2005, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on July 2nd. Born in Greenville, TN, on May 19, 1919, he attended Asheville Farm School, now Warren Wilson College, and Asheville Biltmore College, now UNCA, obtaining a degree in accounting. He worked at Sayles Biltmore Bleachers and retired after a number of years from General Electric Comapany in Hendersonville. Mr. Watts had a very long and distinguished military career of which he was most proud, obtaining the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major, retiring after 28 years of service to his country. He was a Prisoner of War during WWII, after being captured in Northern Africa in Tunisia and later imprisoned in a camp northeast of Berlin for a number of years. The Russian Army marching through eastern Germany liberated his prison camp during the final stages of the war. Mr. Watts later fled his liberators to join the British Forces before being returned to the US. Although Mr. Watts did not often discuss his years as a POW, his heroics and sacrifice to his country were well known. Mr. Watts was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was a member and past president of the Optimist Club of Weaverville, member and past Commander of the VFW Post 891, and for several years, a member of the Buncombe County Memorial Team participating in many military funerals throughout Western North Carolina. He considered this to be of the utmost honor to give other veterans and their families the respect they deserved and in honoring their sacrafices and service to our country. Mr. Watts leaves behind his beloved wife, Leola S. Watts of the Laurels of Summit Ridge; a son, Henry C. Watts, Jr. of Asheville; a daughter, Marilyn Gail Soesbee and her husband Johnny of Pinehurst, NC; two grandchildren, Scott Soesbee of Atlanta and Ashley Brooke Watts of Asheville; a great-grandson, Lee Soesbee of Atlanta; brother, Gordon Shelton and his wife Elizabeth of Erwin, TN; sisters, Amerady Shelton, Artha Shelton, Verna Cantrell and Burl Shelton (deceased) of Madison County; brothers, Calvin Shelton and Cloys King of Greenville, TN and many nieces and nephews. He also cherished and loved his wife’s many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Mr. Watts also leaves behind many close and dear friends including members of the brotherhood of the Buncombe County Memorial Team. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Thursday in the Campbell Chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville with the Rev. Dr. Albert G. “Pete” Peery officiating. Burial will follow at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. His family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. Memorials may be made to the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team, PO Box 16201, Asheville, NC 28816; North Buncombe Optimist Club, P.O. Box 278, Weaverville, NC 28787 or a charity of one’s choice in honor of Mr. Watts. The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to all the team members of the Neuro-Trauma ICU of Mission Health Care Systems for their loving care and support during his stay. Mr. Watts had also expressed his hopes that the Atlanta Braves would finally win the Big One!