Obituary of Joseph Watmough, Jr.

Joseph Watmough Jr. was born on November 14, 1930 and peacefully passed away on September 19, 2022 with his dear wife of 70 years, Joan Watmough, by his side.  Joe is the only son of Joseph Watmough Sr. and Evelyn (Liberty) Watmough of Olneyville, RI, a village on the south side of Providence.  Joe Sr. was a National Hall of Fame swim coach at Brown University who passed on his love of swimming, teaching, and hard work to his son. Evelyn passed on her love of music, beautiful things, and helping others.  

Joe Jr. loved to be active and engaged in swimming, diving, skiing, track and football as a young man.  His passion and talent for football at LaSalle Academy and Moses Brown Prep would take him from high school to college and into the U.S. Army.  Drafted into the Korean War in 1952 he spent part of his time stationed in Germany. There, he, along with other recruits, played stadium football to provide entertainment and respite for battle weary soldiers sent to Munich for much needed R&R. 

Joe returned to the States and graduated from Brown University on the GI bill where he honed his other interests in botany and geology. He eventually became a beloved science teacher at Johnston High School in Rhode Island from 1962-1989. Also a talented carpenter, contractor and landscape architect he put these skills to good use building and landscaping many a home in Northern RI, Maine, and Florida.  Joe loved to design and build a home for functionality as well as beauty. Many of his plantings and landscape gardens exist to this day providing shade for humans and refuge for the local fauna. 

To stay active in the winter Joe would pack up the family and “head it north” to the mountains for ski weekends as long as the snow was flying. He was a daring yet graceful skier who taught many a timid soul how to properly “shush” down the mountain side.  In retirement Joe and Joan moved to Venice, Florida.  From their new home base they created many memories traveling the world.  From Hawaii to Alaska and down the Al-Can Highway, from England to Austria, and Aruba.  Joe loved researching and planning trips. They made multiple expeditions to the Southwest of the United States intrigued by the native culture and the natural beauty of the red rock earth. 

Joe is survived by his wife, Joan. C, Watmough of Venice Florida, his oldest son David Watmough and wife Marina Hankinson of Sarasota, Florida, and his daughter Sandra Watmough-Desaulniers and husband Roger Desaulniers of Chepachet, RI.  He is predeceased by his middle son, Joseph J. Watmough previously from Norton, Massachusetts.  Joseph (Joey, Joe, Dad) lived life on his own terms until the very end. Strong of heart until the last, he now rests in Love and Peace. 

Please join family and friends, at the Sarasota National Cemetery on November 14. Meet from 12:30-12:45 in the Admin area to line up and wait for an escort to the committal shelter. Look for the Funeral signs to the right as you enter, find the letter next to Joe’s name and proceed to the corresponding lane. We will gather to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. 

With much love and gratitude, 

The Watmoughs