John T. Watts, age 90, died at 3:45 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2014, in his home in Lafayette. He had been in failing health. He was a former resident of the Wingate-New Richmond communities. He was born near New Richmond on January 27, 1924, son of the late Carl and Ethel (Bunnell) Watts. On February 25, 1949, he married Mary Ellen Loft at Trinity Evangelical & Reformed Church in Mulberry. She survives.

John was a 1942 graduate of New Richmond High School and attended Purdue University until he entered the Army in 1943. John proudly served with the 513th Army Engineers Corps in the European Theatre with General Patton's Third Army, earning five Bronze Stars.

Following his discharge, he returned to Montgomery County and began farming in the New Richmond area. He later became a rural mail carrier and worked as a carpenter with Randolph Builders. He was an active member of Pleasant Hill UCC and had served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, youth leader, trustee and moderator. He was a member of the former Wingate American Legion. He was a talented woodworker and made many items for his family. For nearly 50 years, he was in charge of Oakland Cemetery. John was a fan of Purdue sports, enjoyed fishing, golfing and traveling. The past 30 years John enjoyed attending World War II Reunions. But most of all John loved his family and thoroughly enjoyed his time with them. In May of 2014, John was honored to travel to Washington D.C. and visit the World War II memorial with the Gold Star Honor Flight.

Surviving with his wife, Mary Ellen, are a daughter, Marcia (& Steve) Ritchie of Lafayette, two sons, JT (& Mary Etta) Watts of Danville, IL, and Lynn (& Cindy) Watts of Murrierta, CA. John has five grandchildren, Mason (& Natalie) Ritchie of Brownsburg, IN, Michael (& Camden) Ritchie of Brookville, IN, Stephanie (&Brett) Koenig of Deer Park, IL, and Matthew & Sarah Watts of Murrieta, California. Four great-grandchildren include Tommy & Nicholas Koenig and Zachary & Sabrina Ritchie. A sister, Ruby Nesbitt, of Lebanon survives. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ruth Thompson, Doris Swick and Martha Swick, and a brother Robert Watts.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 9, 2014, at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 10, 2014, with Rev. Charles Anderson officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will follow in Oakland Cemetery, north of Elmdale. In recognition of the manner in which he was honored, memorials may be made to Gold Star Mothers Honor Flight Program or Pleasant Hill UCC, Wingate. Visit us online to share a memory or leave a condolence at www.familyandfriendsfh.com