Cleatus E. Watson, Jr

Middletown....Cleatus E. ""Bud"" Watson, Jr., 73, resident of Middletown, passed away Wednesday evening at Middletown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after an extended illness.He was born in Middletown, September 30, 1929, the son of Cleatus E. and Margaret Haynes Watson.He was a graduate of Middletown High School in 1947 and attended Ball State University. He was a Navy Veteran and was also in the US Army Reserves.He retired from Delco Remy in 1985 after 28 years of service in production.He served as police officer for the Middletown Police Department from 1957-1977 where he had been Chief of Police for 8 years. He was the first Middletown officer to complete education at the Indiana Law Enforcement academe in Plainfield. He attended many training and educational classes at Indiana University and received several accreditations concerning law enforcement from various colleges and universities.From 1956-1965, he worked at the Indiana Reformatory as a Clerk in the classification department.He was instrumental in providing the ""Civil Defense"" program in Middletown and was one of the original Emergency Medical Technicians of the Middletown Fall Creek Ambulance Service which began service to the community in 1974.He served on the Town Board of Trustees for several years during the building of the Middletown Municipal Center, housing the Clerk Treasurer, Police, EMS and Fire Departments.He attended the Middletown Church of the Nazarene and was a member of the American Legion, Middletown Masonic Lodge F & AM #271, Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, Murat Shrine and the Madison County Shriners Club.He was preceded in death by his parents, his step father: Floyd Purdue and 1 sister: Barbara Antrobus.Survivors include: his wife of 41 years; Janet (Frees) of Sulphur Springs, 2 daughters: Kim Tole of Anderson, Susan (Daniel) Cheung of Fishers, 1 son: Michael Watson of Gas City, 9 grandchildren: Lindsey Howell of Indianapolis, Kiely Howell of North Carolina, Brian Tole of Anderson, Chris Eblin of Fishers, Cody Cheung of Fishers, David Cheung of Fishers, Stefanie Watson of Gas City, Jon-Michael Watson of Anderson, and Shaefer Watson of Anderson.Funeral services will be held on Monday at 10:00 am at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, 118 South 5th, Middletown with Rev. David Whitteberry and Rev. Marty Ballard of the Middletown Church of the Nazarene officiating.Burial will follow at Miller Cemetery, east of Middletown.Friends may call on Sunday from 4-8 PM with Masonic Memorial services at 8:00 PM that evening.Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.Online guestbook at: www.ballardandsons.com