Obituary: Watson, Steven Royce
He was born to the late Joycelyn Rosler and the late Wendell Watson in Portland, Oregon on May 31st, 1947.
Steven graduated from Kennewick High School in 1965 and received a BA in Business from Washington State University in 1969.
He also went on to complete his MBA from Washington State University in 1972.
He married Kathryn Ann Benshoof in 1967 and they began their University education together two weeks after their marriage.
Kathryn was a Music major and Education Minor and Steve was a student of business and finance.
Steve graduated with an MBA in business and finance in 1972.
Kathy was a concert pianist and is alum of the class of 1974.
Steven worked for Washington State University from 1967 up until 1990.
From 1977 to 1978, Steven and his family lived in Ghana, West Africa where Steven worked as a Fulbright professor at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.
Kathy was hired by an International, school called the Ridge School to teach third grade, and fifth sixth seventh and eighth grades.
In 1990, Steve left his job as Director of Academic and Administrative computing at Washington State University and took a job with Software A.G. North America as Vice President of Marketing.
He then went on to become Executive Vice President and International Spokesperson for Software AG making an international name for himself as a magician and comedian as well as computing genius.
The Europeans loved Steve because magic is the international language heard round the world.
Steve was a lay minister and helped build a new church for the Community of Christ at the same time he was raising two children with his wife Kathy, and building their first new home together.
Steve became pastor in 1980 and was pastor for 10 years.
Steven is survived by his wife, Kathryn Ann Watson, two children Lisa Marie Watson, PhD 44, of San Diego, CA and Eric Steven Watson, age 41, of Denver, CO.
He is also is survived by three grandchildren: Owen Steven, Olivia Rose and Charlie Steven Watson of Denver.
Steven fought a long battle with Parkinson’s disease but never lost his kind, loving and generous spirit and he lived every day with grace and love for everyone around him.
A viewing will be held at 6-8 p.m. Sunday March 10th at KIMBALL FUNERAL HOME in Pullman, WA.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 am Monday, March 11th at Kimball Funeral Home and will be followed by a graveside service at the Pullman Cemetery.
A luncheon will follow at the Lewis Alumni Center, in the Great Hall, where Kathy worked for many years.
Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com