Obituary of Floyd Gordon Watts

LIBERTY FLOYD GORDON WATTS of Liberty, Maine left this earthly existence just in time to avoid making or breaking any New Year’s resolutions. He was in his own home which was his desire. Floyd was born March 3, 1930 in Rockland, Maine to Harold S. Watts and Gretchen (Gordon) Watts. His childhood was spent on the Watt’s Dairy Farm in St. George getting wet in the farm pond almost every day in every season including through the ice on occasion. He had good memories of the Long Cove School in spite of the Alzheimer’s Disease until the end of his life. When the U.S. entered World War II, he and his life-long friend, Pete Peterson, both tried to enlist. Pete got away with it, but Floyd, as the only boy on the farm, got caught out. He subsequently joined Ralph Clines “Clines Hell Cats” a group of young men too young for military service and some World War I veterans. They organized to spot German U-Boats and patrol the shores. Floyd was an adventurer and entrepreneur. He traveled to Africa and Europe. His many occupations included a plumbing business, boat-building and many types of flying. It was flying that he loved most of all. From the time Hugo Lehtinen taught him to fly and spot herring throughout the rest of his life he was involved in aviation. Early on he flew on the Spruce Budworm Project spotting for the spray planes. He ran Ace Aviation in Belfast providing air taxi and charter service. He taught many people to fly and helped them obtain commercial and instrument ratings. He had many adventures while running Ace Aviation including a Mayday landing at Brunswick Naval Air Station. He flew fire patrol for the State of Maine during a time when his wife worked on a fire lookout tower. He towed gliders in California, flew gliders in North Carolina and towed gliders in Bar Harbor until he could no longer get commercial insurance. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Marion (Lindsey) Watts, the mother of his children. He lost his first born child, Christine Watts Ogden to breast cancer. He endured marriage to Joan Weaver before they divorced. She too predeceased him. He leaves behind his wife, Lise Herold and his dog, Ace’s Traveler, who has been his companion for the past 16 years and will be horribly missed by both of them. He is also survived by his sisters and their families, Darlene Simmons of Lincoln, VT and Sherrill Weaver of Topsfield, MA. His surviving children are Laurel Watts of Colorado, Austin Watts and his wife Helen of Bowdoin, Maine, Jim Watts of Brooks, Maine and Kathy Watts and her husband Alan Bryce of New Hampshire. He had 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Christine’s children, Rachel Haffer Winchenbach, Charles “Chip” Skinner and his partner Mel, Sam Winchenbach and his wife Lindsey; Laurel’s children, Steve, Lesley and Russell; Austin and Helen’s children, Marion Watts and her husband Brian Kelly of Fort Collins, Colorado and Sarah Watts of Alna, Maine. Floyd had such joy when Rachel gave birth to his great-grandson, Brody. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins including a special nephew, Bill Simmons and his partner Jessica Albrecht of New Haven, Vermont. A time of remembering will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2016 at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Those who wish may make donations to Alzheimer’s Association, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.ripostafh.com