Vivian Angus Octavious Watson

Husband, Father, Brother & Friend

Vivian Angus Octavious Watson, 90, of Orlando, passed away on November 3, 2019 at his home in the presence of his loving family and friends. He was the loving husband of Keturah (Parker) Watson. The couple had known each other for 72 years.

Vivian was born on July 10, 1929 to the late Victor and Violet (Gayle) Watson in Quick Step, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, West Indies.

With "Vivian", "Doc", "Watty", there was no such thing as a stranger. Once you met him, you were a friend or family. His warm, outgoing personality, his humor and humility never failed to encourage and uplift. He was a happy man who inspired joy and laughter.

As a young man, he studied agriculture at Dinthill Technical High School in Linstead, St. Catherine, and was a pole vaulter.

He proudly served in the Jamaican Military Force for 6 years, where he advanced to Lance Corporal. After leaving the army, he became a firefighter serving at the Halfway Tree Station in Kingston for 13 years, before leading his own station at Rollingtown, Kingston as a Sergeant.

In 1969, the family immigrated to the Bronx, New York, where Vivian worked as a security officer at Bronx Lebanon Hospital for 13 years. He received several commendations, including one for bravery after disarming an armed gunman in the hospital's Emergency Room.

He and his wife later made their home in Orlando, where he worked as a custodian for Orange County Public Schools until his retirement.

As an avid reader, he especially enjoyed poetry and inspirational works and would often share passages and poems with friends, church members and family. He was big fan of word jumbles and puzzle books.

He was passionate about fishing and enjoyed regular outings with his "fishing buddies", and the young men from the youth group at Rolling Hills Moravian Church. Along the way, he collected sea shells to share with others.

As a master gardener, he established a community garden for his church and often donated fresh produce from his garden to local food banks. He loved growing things, especially his orchids, and sharing them with others.

He loved nature and learning new things. At the age of 88, he briefly joined his daughter in her bee keeping operation, but decided to watch from a distance after his first sting.

He championed all of his grandchildren, and supported them in any way he could. For many others though, Mr. Watson was the adopted Father, Uncle and Grandpa they never had and he relished the opportunity to support and encourage young people.

Vivian is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Keturah; his two sons, Karl Watson of Orlando, FL and Macey Watson of Sterling, VA; his daughter, Elaine Lee and her husband, JK, of Orlando, FL; six grandchildren, Cassandra, Jamell, Alexis, Macey Jr., Julian, Joey; two brothers, Ralford Watson and his wife, Valery, of Decatur, GA and Lewelyn Watson and his wife, Barbara, of Prince Edward Island, Canada; three sisters, Bernice Fletcher of Kingston, Jamaica, Madgelin Tennant and her husband, Lister, of Toronto, Ontario, and Sylena Watson of England; as well as a great-granddaughter, Toniann, numerous nieces and nephews, and his many friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2019, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home - East Orlando Chapel, 895 S. Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 10:00 am at the Rolling Hills Moravian Church, 1525 State Road 434 Longwood, FL 32720, with the RT Tom Sheldon and Reverend Sherwin Allyne, officiating.

Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando, FL.

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