Burl S. Watson passed peacefully from this life surrounded by his adoring family on October 17, 2013 at the age of 86 after a brief battle with cancer. Burl was born on June 15, 1927 in Brooklyn to Burl S. and Emitom Burns Watson, and grew up in the New York City suburb of Manhasset.
He earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with varsity track letters from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an EMBA from Columbia University in 1969, and he was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma. Burl enlisted in the US Navy on VE day, 1945 where he served in the V- 5 pilot training program. He joined the US Air Force during the Korean War and was released as a 1st Lt. in 1953. He met his wife, Nita Burnett on the California Zephyr train, where she worked as a Zephyrette. They were married
in San Francisco on October 4, 1956. In 1957 Burl moved to Bartlesville, OK and worked for Cities Service as a finance executive. There he served as chairman of the local American Red Cross, Chairman of the Board of the Washington County Memorial Hospital, and a member of Kiwanis.
Burl later moved to Tulsa in 1964 where his family joined Kirk of the Hills. He served as Trustee, Elder, Usher, Greeter, and Sunday School teacher. He also worked with national Presbyterian organizations including Covenant Fellowship of Presbyterians, Presbyterians for Renewal, and Presbyterians Pro-Life.
After retiring in 1983, Burl was exceptionally generous with his time and talent through a new career of volunteer service.
Burl served as a Trustee of the University of the Ozarks, and as a director or officer of Tulsa Opera, Chamber Music Tulsa, Friends of the Tulsa Library, The Executive Service Corps of Tulsa, Tulsa Ballet, and Up With Trees.
Burl also served the community through Rotary Club of Tulsa. Burl was exceptionally intelligent, well read, and intellectually curious. He was the king of grammar, and made sure his family never misused a gerund, confused a subject with an object, or ended a sentence with a preposition.
Active until he became ill, he loved to watch his grandchildren in sporting events and was so proud of their many accomplishments. Burl's amazing mind, his can-do attitude and generosity were appreciated by all. He was quick witted and loved to laugh, tell jokes and sing funny old songs. He was well traveled
having visited all 50 states, plus 49 countries in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Mourning their loss are his loving wife of 57 years Nita, son Doug, daughter Emily Hillsman and husband Thorn, and son Byron and wife Amy. Burl is also survived by his wonderful sister, Angie D'Albora, and his six grandchildren Lyndsay Morgan, Tom Watson and wife Julie, Andrew Watson,
Amanda Watson, Emitom Hillsman, Angela Hillsman. Burl lived through faith and was ready to be welcomed into the Kingdom of God. Many thanks to Rev. Wayne Hardy and Burl's many friends at the Kirk and elsewhere for their
support and prayers over the past several months.
A service celebrating Burl's life will be held on Monday, October 21, 2013, at I pm, Kirk of the
Hills, 4102 E. 61st Street. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his name to Kirk of the Hills ( www.thekirk.com )
Tulsa Opera, or Tulsa Community Foundation.