Jim flew with Honor Flight Austin and many of us call him a friend. We hope you take a moment to honor this exceptional husband, father and Patriot.
Chalton James “Jim” Watters Sr. died at his home in Georgetown, Texas on Tuesday, February 5th. A California native born in Santa Ana in 1919, Jim was a Pearl Harbor Survivor who began his service at Ford Island Naval Air Station in 1941. After serving in the south pacific with his squadron, VP/VPB-23, Jim finished his active duty as a Lieutenant Commander at Olathe NAS in Kansas. There he met and married Mary Josephine Moskowitz of Springfield, Missouri in 1944. After World War II ended, Jim and Mary moved to southern California where they raised two children, Pamela and Jim Jr. They spent a number of happy years living in San Pedro, California. Jim expanded the family business, Richards Cleaners, which became prominent in the Los Angeles Harbor area. He was active in the Rotary Club, the National Drycleaners Association, and the Masonic Lodge. Ever fond of the ocean, he spent many a day on the water either sailing, fishing, or cruising.
In 1984, Jim and Mary moved to Colorado where they built a home in Monument and added many new friends to their circle. While there, they hosted and became close with several Air Force Academy cadets. When the winter weather finally became too much, they moved south to Marble Falls,Texas. There they built a home and more special friendships. Never too far from aviation, Jim served as commander of the Confederate Air Force squadron in Burnet. 1995 was another moving year, with Mary and Jim buying a home in Georgetown, Texas. Jim’s love for the Navy and for aviation stayed strong throughout his life, and he helped keep squadron ties alive through reunions at locations around the country. Jim was happy to share his experiences, from oral histories for the Nimitz Foundation to presentations for the Georgetown Junior ROTC. As a fitting capstone for his life, Jim was taken by Honor Flight Austin to see the World War II Memorial in Washington DC.
Jim Watters was an exceptional husband, father, friend, and American. He was forever faithful to the family and friends who will treasure his memory forever.
Memorials may be made in Jim’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project, Honor Flight Austin (Send to Honor Flight c/o Betty Schleder, 332 Rio Grande Loop) or the Nimitz Foundation.
