Russell La Foy Watson

Russell L. Watson, age 80, passed away January 29, 2025 surrounded by family at his home in Bryan, TX. He was a long-time Christian and died with the joyous hope of Heaven.

 Russell was born in Gorman, TX on February 19, 1944, and graduated from Jefferson High School in San Antonio in 1963. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, attended helicopter mechanic school (making the highest grade in the class), and was deployed to Vietnam (1968-1969).

 Upon his return, he worked as a mechanic at his Uncle Curn’s garage (“Watson’s Garage”), with whom he had started working at age 12. He also became a firefighter at Olmos Park and Castle Hills fire departments for eight years, driving and maintaining the firetruck.

 The Watson family and Evans family both attended the West Ave. Church of Christ in San Antonio. Marilyn Evans caught the eye of Russell in Bible class. A first date of miniature golf led to a loving marriage of 50 years. Opposites attract! Marilyn brought the liveliness; Russell brought the stability.

 He then worked as a diesel mechanic for Homer Storbeck until moving to Tom Benson Chevrolet for eight years. He then began his favorite job, starting as a Senior Mechanic at Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in 1990. He instrumented vehicles for tests, working closely with engineers and becoming an expert on programming Campbell Scientific data loggers. He retired from SWRI in 2006, but it didn’t take. He returned as a consultant from 2008-2015.

Russell and Marilyn were blessed with two sons. He served as an example of humble service and provided a steady, calming influence on the whole family. He loved the Lord, showing his faith by being kind to every single person he met.

 Russell had a mechanical mind and insatiable curiosity for how things work. He loved to build, tinker, and solve all manner of mechanical problems, from working on expensive BMWs to fixing vacuum cleaners he found in the trash.

 They moved to Bryan, TX in 2016 to be near their sons and families. He had been a deacon and faithful Christian for many years at Woodlawn Hills Church of Christ and Grissom Road Church of Christ in San Antonio and served as a deacon again in the Benchley church of Christ.

 He is survived by his wife Marilyn; son Mark and wife Lesli (children Owen and Kylie); son David and wife Nicole (children Tanner and Allie); sister Judy Davis; sister Wynell McCasland and husband Rod; and sister Jeanie Guesman.

 Memorial donations may be made in Russell’s honor to the American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org/).