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Father of 4 Succumbs after lengthy battle with Hepatitis
By Jen Patteson, Sentinel Staff Writer, July 12, 2005
The Watson family of Casselberry was certain of just one thing Friday. "I just know he gets sicker every day," said Mimi Watson of her husband, David.
Watson, a father of four and a traffic-safety inspector with the city of Orlando, had been suffering from hepatitis C for nine years. Two weeks ago, he learned he had cancer of the liver and would need a transplant.
But he took a sudden turn for the worse Friday night and was rushed to South Seminole Hospital. Watson died Sunday afternoon. He was 52.The Watsons' struggle to hold on to their home and pay their bills until Watson's disability payments started in September was profiled in the Orlando Sentinel's Life & Times section Monday. Among those helping the family was the Christian Sharing Center in Longwood, which the Watsons have supported through the years with donations of food, clothing and volunteer hours."We're still there for them," said Angie Romagosa, the center's president. "We will identify whatever their needs are and try to help."The family's church, Community United Methodist in Casselberry, also is supporting the family. "There were about 100 members of the church at the hospital at the time of David's passing," said Diane Thornton, minister of programs. "They were praying, comforting the family, singing `Our God Is an Awesome God.' One of our members, Verlon Eason, played the harp outside David's room. "Watson was "a man of God who lived a life people wanted to pattern their lives after," Thornton said. It was unusual to have that many church members at the hospital, said William Thompson Sr., minister of young adults. "The Watson family was involved in so many different areas of the church," Thompson said. "About 80 or 90 percent of the people here have a connection with one or other of the family members through the preschool or the men's ministry or the youth ministry. They wanted to show their support. "Watson took the news of his cancer with fortitude, said David Keys, a friend. During his long illness, he started writing poetry -- "mostly about his relationship with God, his family and how he saw life," Keys said. Watson is survived by his wife, Mimi; twin 19-year-old daughters, Amanda and Mary; and sons Warren, 15, and Andrew, 13. A David Watson Memorial Fund has been opened at Washington Mutual Bank.Banfield Funeral Home, Winter Springs, is handling arrangements.
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Patricia Messick
David left us July 10, 2005. He had battled hepatitis C for years, and was diagnosed with liver cancer shortly before his death.
I went to school with David from 4th or 5th grade at South Seminole Elementary on up through high school, then reconnected in the early 2000s at church (Community United Methodist -- the church I grew up in). I only saw him occasionally, on my visits from North Carolina to see my parents, but he and I always made a beeline for each other. And he always had a big hug for me.
David was married to Mimi, had twin daughters and two sons -- and lived an amazingly interesting life. He touched lots and lots of people with his life story and also with his Christian poetry. The Orlando Sentinel wrote a nice article about him and his family, immediately following his passing.
We miss you, David!
Frances Bistline (Stephan)
David and I became good friends on a class trip to Key Largo,Fl. We hung out at the campground laundry because it was air conditioned and the class was camping on limestone in the summer heat.
Back at school we remained friends for many years.One summer David's father drove David out to our family vacation camp and he stayed for the weekend. Lots of swimming and talking and good memories.
David was an excellant poet. One poem he wrote me was called"The Mongoose and the Princess", wish I could find it!
I met David's wife at one reunion when they was expecting their twins. David was so concerned that she was comfortable , it was like him to be concerned about others but I remember how sweet he was to his wife.
Rest in Peace David, you are missed.
Martin Tyrie
YEAH I AM TRULY HAPPY THAT DAVE HAD A GOOD LI FE AND FAMILY,WE WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS ELEMEMTARY SCHOOL,CAME HOME WITH US IN FRIDAY NITE AND WOULD STAY FOR DINNER,WE WOULD GO SOMEWHERE ON SAT,EITHER NEAR OR FAR,MY PARENTS REALLY LIKED HIM,HE STAYED UP MUCH LATER THAN ME AND MY BROTH ER,WHO USUALLY NODDED OUT AT 9 OR BEFORE[FUNNY,STILL DO]WE USED TO TRAVERSE THE NORTH ORLANDO[NOW WINTER SPRINGS AREA]ALSO AROUND THE CLOSED HORSE TRA CK AT ONE TIME,REALLY COOL,HIS PARENTS WERE VERY UP TIGHT AS WELL AS HIS BROTHER GARY,SO DAVE REALLY ENJOYE D COMING OVER,HE WAS A PRECOUSOUS[CK SPELLING!] WRITER, USE TO WRITE ALL THE TIME WHEN HE WAS OVER,OLDER PERIOD,,,ALSO HAS A CURIOUS SCRIPT WHICH MADE THE WRITING ALL TH E MO BETTER.AT ONE TIME HIS MOM HAD A WHITE FORD FUTURA FALCON,WHITE WITH A RED INTERIOR,I THINK THEY WERE CAJUN STOCK,HAD A GREAT HOUSE ON PANAMA ROAD,DIRT AT THE TIME,ALL THE ROADS THERE WERE DIRT,HOUSE ON A HILL,,,WE HAD A LARGE CACHE OF OLD BOTTLES THERE THAT WE FOUND IN THE AREA AT OLD HOMESTEADS,THAT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO CAMP OUT THEN,IT WAS A LOT MORE RURAL THAN CRACKLEBERRY,A LOT COOLER TOO,I NEVER GET OUT THAT WAY ANYMORE.ONE TIME ME,DAVE AND MY BROTH ER STEVE H AD SAILOR H ATS WIT HBATMAN BUTTONS ON THEM,PROBABLY66?I DO THINK SOME OF OUR CLASSMATES DIED AT THE RIGHT TIME,BEFORE ALL OF THIS CONFLICT IN THE WORLD,IT TRULY WAS A BETTER TIME,HE ALSO BEAT ME,I ONLY HAD ONE DAUGHTER,HE USED TO TALK ABOUT HAVING KIDS WHEN HE WAS YOUNG,I COULDNT IMAGINE IT!!!