Stanley Watson

Stanley Arthur Watson Dr., 96, of Wooster, died Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Smithville Western Care Center.


Friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster. Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Grace Brethren Church Wooster with Pastor Steve Kern officiating. Burial will be at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the missions fund at Wooster Grace Brethren Church or to the City of Wooster, Ohio for Wooster Memorial Park.


Stanley was born August 30, 1915 in Los Angeles, CA to William and Mabel {Kinney} Watson. He married Hazel Boyd on August 29, 1942. Stanley grew up in Pomona, CA, was an Eagle Scout, and, after two years off to help his Dad start a feed business, earned a bachelor's degree from Pomona College in Chemistry. He went on to earn a masters degree in Botany from the University of Illinois, and after several years work in military research, he returned to the University of Illinois where he earned a PhD in Agronomy.


Stanley worked for CPC International, Inc. in Chicago for 30 years, retiring in 1978. During that time, he was active in church and community affairs. He served as Sunday school superintendent, and in several roles as a Boy Scout leader. In 1978, he and Hazel moved to Wooster, OH to work for Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center for 8 years, where he directed a project to coordinate and promulgate grain quality research. After retiring, he edited and wrote several chapters for a book on corn that is now in its second edition. He was active in civic affairs. He was a cofounder of Friends of Wooster Memorial Park, and was a tireless advocate for family values in civic life. He was an active member of Grace Brethren Church of Wooster. He was active in international mission work. His travels included Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Guatemala, and he continued to follow those trips up with support for the missionaries he met. In his later years he created and maintained a beautiful rock garden at the Pregnancy Care Center. Stanley loved nature, photography and gardening. He was active in the Botanizer group at the Wilderness Center. He was also a member of the Wooster Noon Lions Club. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, and is past president of the American Association of Cereal Chemists.


Stanley was a loving and dedicated family man. Through family activities he instilled a love of nature and outdoor recreation in his children. He will be deeply missed by his children James Watson of Greenville, NC, Louise Watson of Stillwater, MN, Carol (Roy) Smith of Denver, CO, and Thomas (Nancy) Watson of Burbank, CA; grandchildren Alicia Watson-Girgis of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Adam (Jessica) Watson of Burbank, CA Stanley was preceded in death by his wife Hazel and his brother Stuart.