John Austin Watson, 89, of Franklin Street in Slippery Rock died at 4:30 a.m. today at Orchard Manor Nursing Home, Grove City, after a six-week illness.

Born in Portersville, Aug. 24, 1916, he was the son of Grover Cleveland Watson and Florence Alma Hines.

He was a member of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church. He was the longest standing member of the church, which he joined at the age of 12. During this time, he served as a member of the trustees and was on the administrative council and other committees.

Mr. Watson retired in 1974 from the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier in the Slippery Rock area. He had replaced a Mr. Kennedy, who was the first carrier in Slippery Rock to switch from horseback to motorized vehicle delivery.

He also owned and operated Watson’s Tennis Shop in Slippery Rock for several years, strung tennis rackets for nearly 75 years and had strung rackets for many high schools including Butler and Grove City, as well as for colleges, including Slippery Rock, Grove City, Westminster and Thiel. He also had a standing contract with New Castle Sporting Goods for nearly 40 years.

He graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1934 and Slippery Rock State Teachers College, now Slippery Rock University, in 1940, with a bachelor’s degree in education.

He was inducted in the Slippery Rock Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He served on the SRU Alumni Association Board of Directors for more than 20 years, and also served as president of the association. He was an active member of the SRU Athletic Association since its inception and was one of the founding members of the Watson Family Scholarship maintained by SRU.

His family has had a longstanding history with SRU. His grandfather, John N., was one of the original stockholders and early trustees of Slippery Rock State Normal School. His father, Grover C. Watson, graduated from Slippery Rock State Normal School in 1913; Mr. Watson graduated from Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1940; his son, Robert J. Watson, graduated from Slippery Rock State College in 1970; and his granddaughter, Emily E. Watson, is currently a junior at SRU, marking five generations of relationship with the university.

Mr. Watson served on the board of directors of Butler Memorial Hospital for more than 10 years. He was a member of the Grove City F&AM Lodge 603 and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of New Castle for more than 50 years.

He served as a member of the Slippery Rock Area School Board of Directors for eight years.

He was one of the first men to leave Slippery Rock during World War II, served in the Army from 1941 to 1945 and earned the rank of technical sergeant. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and actively participated in the European Theatre. He served in the Army Intelligence Branch and completed several maps that were used for the Normandy Invasion, some of which are preserved and displayed at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.

He was an active member of the Slippery Rock American Legion Post 393, where he served as commander on different occasions.

Surviving are his wife, Irene Hockenberry Watson, whom he married Dec. 27, 1945; a daughter, Karen Skilling and her husband, Dr. Francis, of Tallahassee, Fla.; a son, Dr. Robert Watson and his wife, Karen, of Slippery Rock; two sisters, Norma Laughner and her husband, Carl, of Slippery Rock and Louise Houpt and her husband, Jack, of St. Thomas, Pa; and two brothers, Thomas Watson and his wife, Peg, of Ellwood City and Robert L. “Pete” Watson and his wife, Isabelle, of Slippery Rock.

Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Sara and Matthew Hill, Katherine, Laura and Emily Watson, and Bennett and John Skilling.

An infant sister, Ruth, preceded him in death.

WATSON — Friends of John Austin Watson, who died Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, will be received from noon to 2 and from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Visitation also will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, corner of Maple and Franklin streets, Slippery Rock, where services will follow at 2 p.m. The Rev. Pamela Gardner will officiate. Burial will be at Slippery Rock CemeteryMemorial contributions may be given to the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church Foundation or the Slippery Rock University Foundation-Watson Family Scholarship.