Obituaries

Charles “Earl” Watson, age 88, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2018 at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton. An Army Corporal during the Korean War, he was also a 1957 graduate of Temple University with a B.S. in Journalism. In his early career he worked as a sportswriter for the North Penn Reporter in Lansdale. His career focus turned to horse racing and he managed public relations for Laurel Racecourse from 1965-66 before coming to Pocono Downs as Director of Publicity in 1967. Serving as both a freelance and columnist writer for numerous newspapers during his extensive career, he is perhaps best known for his Man About Town column “The Baron” that ran in the Sunday Independent for over twenty years, from the late 1960’s to the late 1980’s.

Preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Maria T. Watson, in August 2017, he will be greatly missed by his 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Heartland Hospice, 613 Baltimore Drive, Suite 3, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 8th, at 11:30AM at St. Paul’s Church, 401 West Grove Street in Taylor. Relatives and friends may pay their respects at the church from 11:00AM until services. Arrangements are under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge.