Lucille Elizabeth Watson

Lucille Watson passed away peacefully at her home in Kings Park, N.Y. on January 7, 2021, having celebrated her 99th birthday less than a month before. Born Lucille Biland on December 12, 1921, she grew up in Brooklyn, N. Y. before breaking a military glass ceiling during World War II by joining the Army in 1943. During her service she became one of the first women to serve our country as an air traffic controller and won several awards, including an American Theater Campaign Medal and WAAC Service Ribbon, before being honorably discharged in November of 1945. It was during her service that she married her husband Arthur in 1944. After their discharge from the Army they briefly lived in New York City, where they enjoyed taking long walks on summer evenings, before buying a home in New Hyde Park, N.Y. near the United Nations building in Lake Success. Lucille and Arthur had four children before Arthur passed away in 1962. As a single mother Lucille picked herself up, something she did many times during her life, and went to work for a medical group, The Orthopedic Surgeons of New Hyde Park. She remained employed there for 30 years before retiring at age 72.

After her retirement Lucille traveled extensively with family and close friends throughout the United States and Europe. She also became actively involved in the Suffolk County Homemakers Council, knitting caps for newborn babies and blankets and other items for various charities. Lucille will be remembered for her artistic handicrafts, and the beautiful holiday decorations she made will be cherished by her family forever. Lucille enjoyed crossword puzzles, and cards, loved a good game of Scrabble, and shared her opinions on all matters clearly and directly right to the end.

Above all else Lucille was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived and will be missed by her four children: Robert Watson (Grace), Patricia Braun (Andrew), Sheryl Carrozzella, and Melissa Salton (Jeffrey); seven grandchildren: Marcia, Nicole, Amy, Arthur, Brandon, Dale, and Reba; and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lucille’s memory to:
Good Shepherd Hospice
110 Bi-County Blvd, Suite 114
Farmingdale, NY 11734
or
American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75231