MYRTLE BEACH / Donald B. Watson, age 71, of Briarcliffe Acres, died Thursday, Apr. 22, 2004 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center following an illness. Mr. Watson was born January 5, 1933 in Wilmington, N.C., then moved with his family to Green Sea. He was a graduate of Carlisle Military Academy in Camden and winner of a Gold Gloves Boxing Championship in SC, which earned him a boxing scholarship to the Citadel. After graduating in 1954, he married Jeanne Mercer Smith and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, stationed in Weisbaden, Germany. While there he coached boxing. Several of his students earned positions on the U.S. Olympic boxing team. After serving in the Army, Mr. Watson rejoined his father in the tobacco warehouse business they began in 1948 in Tabor City, N.C., expanding it to Paducah, Ky., in 1970. Mr. Watson was the owner of the Planters Warehouse, the Planters Farm Supply and Greenhouses, the Big Burley Mart in Paducah, Ky., the Independent Loan Company, the Blue Bay Motel, and several area restaurants, in addition to being a real estate developer. Mr. Watson is survived by his wife, Jeanne S. Watson of Myrtle Beach; two sons, Don Edward Watson and Kevin Bright Watson of Myrtle Beach; and two grandchildren, Taylor Melissa Watson and Donald Trey Watson, both of Myrtle Beach. Mr. Watson was predeceased by his parents, Don Bright Watson and Annie B. Watson. The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 24 at Green Sea Baptist Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Apr. 23 at Hardwick Funeral Home in Loris. Sign a guest book at MyrtleBeachOnline.com. Memorials may be made to Green Sea Baptist Church, 1241 Green Sea Road, Green Sea, SC 29545.
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