Robert A. Watts 1936-2012
Robert Allan Watts, 75, of Champaign, passed away on June 25, in Holland, Mich. Mr. Watts was a long-time summer resident of the Lakeshore.
Mr. Watts was born in Adrian on July 4, 1936, to Richard Prosser Watts and Florence Hooker Watts.
After his mother died in 1942, he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Margaret and Anthony Janata of Urbana, Ill. The Janatas were also long-time summer residents and retirees on the Lakeshore.
He married Emily Stipes on Aug. 31, 1958, in Champaign. She survives.
Also surviving are his three sons, Benjamin Hooker Watts (Judith Argentieri) of Champaign, Edward Stipes Watts (Stephanie Wengert Watts) of East Lansing and Thomas Janata Watts of Saugatuck; four grandchildren, Anton and Alexander Watts of East Lansing and Olivia and Samuel Watts of Champaign, Ill.; his sister, Sally Watts Dawson (Robert Dawson) of Richmond, Va.; a sister-in-law, Joan Watts of Atlanta; and seven nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, the Janatas, his brother Richard and his half-brother Christopher.
Mr. Watts was a three-sport letterman at Urbana High School, from which he graduated in 1954. After attending DePauw University, he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1959 and from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1961.
After being admitted to the Illinois Bar, he joined Stipes Publishing and became a partner in 1967. He remained an active partner until his death.
Mr. Watts served as a member of the Illinois National Guard from 1957 to 1963. He also served on numerous charitable and educational boards in the Champaign-Urbana area and at the University of Illinois. He was a precinct committeeman for many years and treasurer of the Republican Party of Champaign.
For more than 40 summers, he commuted to Michigan every weekend to his and Emily’s summer home. He was commodore of the Saugatuck Yacht Club as well as president of the Lake Shore Bath and Tennis Club.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations in his memory may be given to the Saugatuck Yacht Club—Sailing Program, P.O. Box 608, Douglas, MI 49406 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.