T. R. Watts

T. R. Watts, 87, of Morganton, NC passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2012, after a period of declining health. Born in Burke County, NC on March 22, 1924, he was the son of the late Summie Watts and Hester Smith Watts. He was a member of Missionary Ridge Baptist Church.T. R. was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He served in Europe with the 2nd Armored Division and received the Purple Heart.T.R. worked for Henredon Furniture for 14 years and retired in 1986 from Drexel-Heritage Furnishings after 28 years.He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Watts Brittain and her husband, Steve, and Chris Watts Ashley and her husband, Steve, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Nicole Stroupe and her husband, Jeff, Travis Hill and his wife, Gina, Amy Wehunt Causby, Jason Ashley, Sabrina Ashley Martin and her husband, Morgan, Stephanie Workman and her husband, Chadd, Melody Ashley, and Heather Ashley Elder and her husband, Tony; great-grandchildren, Trent Stroupe, Ty Stroupe, Lucas Hill, Rilee Hill, C.J. Phillips, A.J. Ashley, C.J. Workman, Ashlyn Elder, Tanner Elder, Kaytlin Garcia, and Brendan McLain; sisters, Ethel Biggerstaff and Ella Whisnant, both of Morganton; and a special friend, Sue Wilson Williams.In addition to his parents, T.R. was preceded in death by his wife, Clarcia Propst Watts, and a sister, Essie Watts Wilson.The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church with the Reverends Al Tinnin and Donald Lovelace officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the N.C. National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690 or to Missionary Ridge Baptist Church, 5612 John Watts Road, Morganton, NC 28655.