Funeral services for Perry Virgil Watson, Jr., 82, of Monroe, will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, 1200 Lamy Lane, Monroe. Reverend Michael Wood will officiate. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes prior to the service. Interment will follow at Beulah Cemetery in Union Parish under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe. Perry was born on August 27, 1935, in Holly Ridge, Louisiana, to Perry Virgil Watson, Sr., and Ollie Pearl Watson. The Watsons moved to Winnsboro where Perry graduated from Winnsboro High School. Perry attended Louisiana Tech University where he graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1958 and remained a Bulldog fan and supporter all of his life. He later earned a Master degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma University in 1965. He was commissioned in the US Air Force in 1958 and completed Navigator School as a Distinguished Student Officer Graduate as well as being the recipient of the Air Training Command Commander Trophy. Subsequently he attended Electronic Warfare Officer School, and later B-52 Combat Crew Training School. He entered the Air Force Reserve at Barksdale AFB in 1960. Perry served our country with over 30 years in the AF on both active and reserve duty as a navigator flying more than 2400 hours on the C-124 Globemaster and later as a civil engineer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1995. In 1960 Perry began work at the Louisiana State Health Department in Monroe, where he made his career serving North Louisiana. He was promoted in the LSHD as an Assistant Regional Engineer, Regional Engineer, and lastly District Engineer. He was instrumental in the environmental engineering and compliance design for North Louisiana water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and air quality control. After retiring with over 30 years service with LSHD, Perry was a consultant at Ark-La-Tex Environmental for 9 years. In addition to Perry professional and civic contributions to our country and our state, he was a strong Christian and a firm believer in living his life as Jesus would have him live it. All who knew him admired the humble strength and quiet character that Perry possessed as he served his church and family as a solid role model. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Velda Ruth Wade Watson; his two sisters Adell Watson Williams and Ollie Watson Guimbellot; five children: Sharon Watson Evans and husband Bennie; Linda Watson; Robert Michael Watson and wife Tina; Tara Watson Allgood and husband Patrick; Julie Watson Freeman and husband David; ten grandchildren: Lindsay Evans King and husband Jeff; Jared Evans; Hallie Evans Dye and husband Andrew; Lauren Watson Tarr and husband Joe; Jacob Watson; Zachary Allgood; Carson Allgood and wife Bethany; Laundi Freeman; Sari Freeman; Luke Freeman; and seven great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank all of the people who lovingly assisted Perry during the latter stages of his life: Teresa Carr, Danielle Boatner, Brenda Sherman, Amanda Hanley, Melisa Rogers, Luberta Byrd, Betty Copning. The family also extends sincere appreciation to Donald Shaw of First Choice Hospice, whose dedication and attention was unparalleled, and the entire First Choice Hospice Team led by Judy Palmer; and to Dr. Richard Zweig and Dr. Richard ODonovan for their long-term medical supervision and professional guidance. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Jared Evans, Zachary Allgood, Carson Allgood, Jacob Watson, Luke Freeman, Jeff King, Andrew Dye, and Joe Tarr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parkinson Disease Resource, LSU Health Shreveport Foundation 920 Pierremont Rd, Suite 506 Shreveport, LA 71106 Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.