Rusty was born Dec. 8, 1952, in Quanah, Texas to Bill and Donna Watts.
Rusty peacefully transitioned to eternity with Jesus on Sept. 30, 2022.
A celebration of life service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in the Childress Cemetery Chapel. Pastor Randal Wilson will officiate.
After Rusty’s first year of life, his family relocated to Hobbs, N.M., where his father began his career as a barber. Rusty enjoyed running around the barbershop and was loved by all. At age 20 months, his sister, Vickie, was born. On her first day home from the hospital, Rusty fed his new baby sister Red Hots candy “because Bickie was crying!”
During visits to Childress, Texas, Rusty insisted on staying with his Watts grandparents so he could ride his pony, Mike, and play with the Patterson boys.
Rusty was an energetic and smart boy. He enjoyed playing and pitching in Little League Baseball. After the family moved to Garland, Texas when Rusty was 12, he made many friends and developed a love for football. He played for the Garland Owls as a varsity left guard offense and linebacker.
In the summer of 1964, at age 12, Rusty began shining shoes in his dad’s barbershop. He loved earning his own money so that he could buy fine threads and sharp shoes.
At age 14, his family was blessed with a new baby, his sister, Kim. When Kim began to talk, she called her big brother “Baby.” Don’t ask why. We never figured it out. Kim sadly passed away in 2001.
Rusty graduated from Garland High School, Class of 1970. After graduation, he began training as an electrical helper and received his journeyman’s license.
In 1974, he and Barbara Crow married. From their union, Rusty’s only child and greatest love, Alana Paige Watts, was born. While he was not a loud or boastful man, he beamed with pride over his intelligent and beautiful daughter. Sadly, Alana passed away in 2018.
On Jan. 3, 2010, Rusty accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized by his bonus brother, Thomas Duffield, at Carey Baptist Church. After the devastating deaths of his sweetheart, Lisa, and his daughter, Alana, Rusty moved to the Dallas area to be near his sister, Vickie, and his niece, Alicia. He was a quiet, kind and gentle man who enjoyed family dinners, holidays and watching football. As he aged, he traded Coors Beer and sunflower seeds for Sonic slushes and hard candy. Over the years, many pups and kitties found that Rusty had the best belly rubs. He was especially loved by Alicia’s pup, Gypsy, who was always happy to see her Uncle Rusty, and he always greeted her first upon entering the house. Vickie’s kitty boy, Toby, found a gentle friend in Rusty, too.
Rusty is greatly missed!
