Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Thursday, October 22, 2009

W. Watson Kitchens

W. Watson Kitchens, 90, of Laurel, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living in Laurel.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 at Lebanon Baptist Church, with burial to follow in the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Harold Floyd will officiate.

Watson was a native of Laurel and long-time member of Lebanon Baptist Church. As a U. S. Navy World War II veteran, Watson received the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon with Bronze Star which was awarded for his military combat service in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He also received the World War II Victory Medal. Watson was a patriotic sailor and loved his country.

After his active service, Watson spent over fifty years in the lumber business.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Monroe Kitchens and Jane Bishop Kitchens; three brothers, Robert Lee Kitchens, Henry Monroe Kitchens, and Charles Earnest Kitchens; and two sisters, Ruby Jane Lewis, Bonnie Maye Newcomb; and daughter, Charlotte Ann Kitchens.

Surviving family members include his loving wife, Margaret Todd Kitchens, of Laurel; daughter, Shirley Tidwell of Laurel; and sons, Larry Kitchens, Tommy Kitchens, Timmy Kitchens, Ronnie Kitchens of Laurel, and Roger Kitchens of Madisonville, LA; eight grandchildren, Greg Tidwell, Donna Cagle, Eric Kitchens, Jonathan Jones, Cory Kitchens, Brittany Kitchens, Morgan Kitchens, and Taylor Kitchens; and five great grandchildren.

Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers will be Rickey Bynum and Reuben Bryant.

To sign or view the family guestbook, visit www.leadercall.com.

The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Friday.

Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of arrangements.