Gladys Irene Hockenberry Watson
Gladys Irene Hockenberry Watson peacefully passed away Sunday at the Big Bend Hospice Center in Tallahassee, Fla., comforted by her family and friends.
Irene was born June 25, 1922, in Butler, and grew up in Boydstown. She was the third of four children born to Warren Cass Hockenberry and Laura McDonald Hockenberry. Her three siblings, Arthur Hockenberry, Ruby Hockenberry Pfeuffer and Gail Hockenberry preceded Irene in death.
At age 10, she began working in her father's general store and gas station near the Boydstown Dam. She graduated from Butler High School in 1941 and immediately attended Butler Business School. The following year she graduated and moved to Slippery Rock to begin working at the State Teachers College.
In 1945, Irene met John A. Watson, a Slippery Rock native, who was returning from World War II in Europe. After dating only six weeks, John proposed, and they married on Dec. 27, 1945. John passed away in 2005 just one month before their 60th wedding anniversary.
Their first child, Karen Lee, was born Aug. 15, 1947. After Karen earned advanced degrees and certificates in the field of nursing, she met and married Dr. Francis C. Skilling, a physician from Miami, settled in Tallahassee and they have three children, Sara Kathryn Skilling Hill of Colorado, Bennett Curie Skilling of Colorado and John Daniel Skilling of Texas. Sara married Matthew Hill and they have three children, Annabelle, Charlie and Watson.
Irene and John's second child, Robert Jay, was born on Jan. 26, 1949. After earning advanced degrees in education, Bob met and married Karen McKeag, a teacher from Pittsburgh. They settled in Slippery Rock and have three children, Katherine Irene Watson of Pittsburgh, Laura Jean Watson Goossen of Harmony and Emily Elizabeth Watson Snipes of Alabama. Katherine has one child, Adeline Mae. Laura is married to Christopher Goossen, and Emily is married to Anthony Snipes.
Irene worked at Slippery Rock University for 35 years in various capacities, primarily in the bookstore and in the cooperative activities office from which she retired as its manager in March 1984.
Active in a number of organizations over her lifetime, Irene invested most of her time in her church, the United Methodist Church of Slippery Rock where she was a member for more than 65 years, serving as financial secretary, corresponding secretary, Sunday school superintendent, leader and member of the United Methodist Women, the King's Daughters and numerous committees. Irene also was a leader in the American Legion Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Irene was a strong, guiding influence of love in her family. She believed that opportunities were provided through education and hard work. Even though Irene never attended college, all six of her grandchildren have earned college and advanced degrees in the fields of law, medicine, engineering and education.
Irene traveled throughout the United States and to more than a dozen countries, but she enjoyed life most when she was with her family. Irene was known to her family as Mom, Grammie and Gigi. She personified kindness to family, friends, community and strangers alike.
<B>WATSON</B> — Visitation for Gladys Irene (Hockenberry) Watson, who died Sunday, April 22, 2012, will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. A service celebrating Irene Watson’s life will be at the United Methodist Church, Franklin Street, Slippery Rock, at 10 a.m. Saturday with a graveside service immediately following.Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to either the Watson Family Scholarship, SRU Alumni Association, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 or to the United Methodist Church, Franklin Street, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.
