Official Obituary of
Elfriede A Watson
August 13, 1926 ~ February 2, 2020 (age 93) 93 Years Old
Elfriede Watson Obituary
Columbus, GA - Elfriede Anna Kresser Watson died Sunday, February 2, 2020, at St. Francis Hospital after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 22nd, at Covenant Woods, 5424 Woodruff Farm Road, Columbus, GA. A time of visitation and refreshment will immediately follow the service.
Elfriede was born August 13, 1926, in Heidelberg, Germany, daughter of the late Ludwig Kresser and Anna Schiffler Kresser. She survived the difficult years of WWII, and in 1948 met and married a handsome U.S. Army soldier, Rayford P. Watson. She then spent the next 25+ years raising her two daughters and two sons in various Army posts around the world, including Japan, Germany, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and her hands-down favorite post, Vicenza, Italy. The family returned to their Columbus home in 1970, where she continued establishing her beautiful garden of roses, azaleas, pansies, dogwoods and shade trees.
Once married to her American soldier, Elfriede taught herself English and became a very proud U.S citizen. She raised her four children to be loving, productive, God-fearing citizens, three of whom, including one daughter, are military veterans. She loved a whole bunch of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and made life-long friends wherever she went. For many years she worked both as an employee and a volunteer for the American Red Cross and was recognized for her service to the organization. She made great German dishes including some wonderful crumb cakes, plum cakes, and cinnamon rolls, and was a gravy-maker extraordinaire. We can still taste the Dampfnudeln she made, and wish we could taste them once again!
Some of her favorite things were birds, especially hummingbirds and red cardinals, and flowers and plants, especially roses and pansies. Her love of nature was reflected in her home and yard, and later in life in her apartment and porch at Covenant Woods. Elfriede loved to travel, taking several trips with her husband and with other family and friends throughout the U.S., including the Grand Canyon, and Niagara Falls, which was one of her favorite places. She enjoyed singing and had a lovely soprano voice, and could often be heard humming a favorite hymn or German song. And she really loved the movie, Dirty Dancing! There's no telling how many times she watched it, even within the last month or so!
The last few years of her life were made easier with the help of her home health nurse, Ronda Register, and aides Missy and Allison, and her dear friend Ollie Williams. The residents and staff of Covenant Woods were very special to her, as well, and the family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the ED and MSICU staff at St. Francis Hospital and the CFD EMTs for their care and concern for Elfriede and the family during her last days of life.
She is survived by her son John Watson and wife Louise, of Buford, GA; son David Watson and wife Margie, of Columbus; daughter Cindy Fredo and husband John, of Evans, GA; son-in-law Earl Collins of Clarksville, GA, husband of her late daughter Judy; grandchildren: Jennifer (Mike) Fugate; Brian (Misty) Collins; Ana (Jake) Johnson; Paul (Jessica) Watson; Ben (Robyn) Watson; Erin (Geoff) Wollin; Katie (John) Dunavant; Dominic (Miriah) Fredo; eight great-grandchildren: Sarah Katherine, Andrew, Trent, Corbin, Lily, Brady, Liam, and Logan; Sister-in-law Louise (Jim) Roberts, and many other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Elfriede Watson's memory to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839, or to a charity of your choice.
Elfriede always hoped she would be surrounded by her loving family at the end of her life, and she was. She will be missed. But she's with her parents, brother Willie, husband Paul, and her dear daughter Judy, in a land where there is no pain and suffering. Auf Wiedersehen, Momma!
GA
Elfriede was born August 13, 1926, in Heidelberg, Germany, daughter of the late Ludwig Kresser and Anna Schiffler Kresser. She survived the difficult years of WWII, and in 1948 met and married a handsome U.S. Army soldier, Rayford P. Watson. She then spent the next 25+ years raising her two daughters and two sons in various Army posts around the world, including Japan, Germany, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and her hands-down favorite post, Vicenza, Italy. The family returned to their Columbus home in 1970, where she continued establishing her beautiful garden of roses, azaleas, pansies, dogwoods and shade trees.
Once married to her American soldier, Elfriede taught herself English and became a very proud U.S citizen. She raised her four children to be loving, productive, God-fearing citizens, three of whom, including one daughter, are military veterans. She loved a whole bunch of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and made life-long friends wherever she went. For many years she worked both as an employee and a volunteer for the American Red Cross and was recognized for her service to the organization. She made great German dishes including some wonderful crumb cakes, plum cakes, and cinnamon rolls, and was a gravy-maker extraordinaire. We can still taste the Dampfnudeln she made, and wish we could taste them once again!
Some of her favorite things were birds, especially hummingbirds and red cardinals, and flowers and plants, especially roses and pansies. Her love of nature was reflected in her home and yard, and later in life in her apartment and porch at Covenant Woods. Elfriede loved to travel, taking several trips with her husband and with other family and friends throughout the U.S., including the Grand Canyon, and Niagara Falls, which was one of her favorite places. She enjoyed singing and had a lovely soprano voice, and could often be heard humming a favorite hymn or German song. And she really loved the movie, Dirty Dancing! There's no telling how many times she watched it, even within the last month or so!
The last few years of her life were made easier with the help of her home health nurse, Ronda Register, and aides Missy and Allison, and her dear friend Ollie Williams. The residents and staff of Covenant Woods were very special to her, as well, and the family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the ED and MSICU staff at St. Francis Hospital and the CFD EMTs for their care and concern for Elfriede and the family during her last days of life.
She is survived by her son John Watson and wife Louise, of Buford, GA; son David Watson and wife Margie, of Columbus; daughter Cindy Fredo and husband John, of Evans, GA; son-in-law Earl Collins of Clarksville, GA, husband of her late daughter Judy; grandchildren: Jennifer (Mike) Fugate; Brian (Misty) Collins; Ana (Jake) Johnson; Paul (Jessica) Watson; Ben (Robyn) Watson; Erin (Geoff) Wollin; Katie (John) Dunavant; Dominic (Miriah) Fredo; eight great-grandchildren: Sarah Katherine, Andrew, Trent, Corbin, Lily, Brady, Liam, and Logan; Sister-in-law Louise (Jim) Roberts, and many other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Elfriede Watson's memory to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839, or to a charity of your choice.
Elfriede always hoped she would be surrounded by her loving family at the end of her life, and she was. She will be missed. But she's with her parents, brother Willie, husband Paul, and her dear daughter Judy, in a land where there is no pain and suffering. Auf Wiedersehen, Momma!
Celebration of Life
FEB 22. 2:00 PM (est)
Covenant WoodsGA
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elfriede A Watson, please visit our floral store.
Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.
How do you know Elfriede A Watson?
We are sorry for your loss.
Help others honor Elfriede's memory.
Email
Print
Copy
Services
You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Elfriede A Watson
© 2024 McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility