DR. RONALD K. WATSON

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DR. RONALD K. WATSON, M.D. (F.R.C.P.) Peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2004, at his West Hawk cottage, surrounded by the love of his family. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 48 years, Marilyn; and children, Don (Tracy Love), Debbie (Rick Martin), Rick (Claudia Watson), Linda (Cam McFadyen) and Ron Jr.; grandchildren, Kira and Hunter Watson, Jason and Liana Martin, Ashleigh Watson and Terri Newman, Karlyn and Devyn McFadyen; sister Sheila (Bill Milner) mother-in-law Mary Burrows; sister-in-law Norrie Ricthie. Predeceased by his parents, Alice and Herbert Watson, and Wilf and Don Burrows. Ronald K. was born and raised in Winnipeg, graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1953. He began his medical career in Flin Flon, MB, where he met and married Marilyn. After two years, they moved to St. Louis, MO to specialize in Otorhinolaryngology under Dr. Ogura and Dr. Walsh at the Washington University School of Medicine. After four years of training Ron moved back to Winnipeg with his wife and three children. Ron joined the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the Winnipeg Clinic in 1960, where he continued to work, up until this past spring. Ron had privileges at the General and Misericordia Hospitals and was Head of the E.N.T. Department for a number of years at Misericordia. Ron taught many new doctors his chosen specialty, attracting a number of them from afar, to learn from him. Ron and family returned to Flin Flon each July, for many years, where he saw patients each morning, and joined the family vacation for the rest of the day at Beaver Lake. For many years, Ron went to Norway House, to see patients in the northern community as part of the Northern Medical Unit. He also spoke to a larger audience as medical expert on a local radio station. Others will know these aspects of his life better than us because to us he was Dad. With five children Dad was very active at the River Heights Community Club. As a family, we spent Friday evenings at family skating. Dad was a regular spectator at hockey games, speed skating and other activities. Dad served two terms as President of the R.H.C.C. Later in life, with children grown and many grandchildren, Dad enjoyed semi-retirement, travelling and puttering. Most weekends he would go to the cottage at Whytewold, and summer was spent where he passed, at West Hawk Lake. He spent hours walking around the property, poking the rocks with a knife, looking for a small hole so he could plant a small tree. Now, most trees on the property are ones he planted, and most are very big, with good strong roots, because Dad helped them get a good start when they were young. The stable influence in our lives is gone, but the uncertainty brought by Dads passing is only temporary because he gave us all a good start when we were young. Donations to Cancer Care Manitoba, or the Winnipeg Humane Society, in lieu of flowers. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, August 18 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Church, Oak Street at Kingsway Avenue.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2004