ILION-Gordon A. Watson age 79 of Philip Street, entered into eternal rest on Saturday January 10, 2004 in Valley Health Services Inc., Herkimer. He had the comfort of his loving wife at his side. He was born on January 28, 1924 in Milford, son of the late Henry and Mae Schell Watson. A life long area resident he was raised and educated in Little Falls. He worked for the Snyder Bicycle Co. in Little Falls. An honorably discharged US Navy veteran of World War Two, he enlisted in September of 1942. He completed over three years of service in the Navy where he proudly served with the Aviation Unit on the USS Baltimore. He was on board when the USS Baltimore picked up President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his dog Fala and transported them from the West Coast to Alaska. He served while this ship was a part of a carrier task force which made the first bombing of Saipan and the Tinian Islands also participating in the Bombing of New Guinea, Marcus Island and Guam as well as the fleet action with the Japanese Task Force west of the Mariana Islands, task group raids on Iwo Jima and several other operations. Gordon was the recipient of a Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, five Bronze Stars, Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation and American Theatre Medals. He received his Honorable Discharge in January of 1946. He was employed by National Automotive Fibres Co. in Little Falls. He had a strong belief in God and was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer. Gordon was a man who lived his life with kindness and generosity. He had a special fondness for animals. He was a friend to many and will never be forgotten. Surviving are his wife Olga, a son Timothy Paul and his wife Doreen Watson of Ilion, one grandson, Bradley Watson, three granddaughters, Amanda, Jennifer and Kimberly Watson, several nieces and nephews and cousins. Besides his parents he was preceded in death two brothers Francis and Russell Watson. The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer on Saturday from 9:30am until 12:30 noon. Funeral service will follow in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer at 1:00 pm. The Reverend Alice Moberg-Sarver, interim-Pastor will officiate. A reception will be held in the undercroft of the church immediately after the service. Interment with military honors will be in Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Little Falls later this spring. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. For the past nine years Mr. Watson has resided at the Mohawk Valley Nursing Home in Ilion. The family wishes to extend a sincere thank-you to the nurses and staff of the nursing home for the wonderful care and kindness shown to Gordon and his family during that time. .