Ils'E Watson

Ils'e Watson of Springfield, a native of Lithuania, died Wednesday morning, February 13, at Cox South Medical Center after three weeks of hospitalization and an illness of more than a year. Ils'e, wife of Bev Watson, was born April 17, 1921, in Memel, Lithuania. Following her basic education in Memel, she attended college on the Isle of Wight and became fluent in four languages. Ils'e's early life was marked by a number of harrowing experiences when, during World War Two, her country was overrun--first by armies of the Soviet Union, then by the German army. Later, while working as an interpreter for U. S. occupation authorities in Munich, Germany, Ils'e met her husband-to-be, Bev Watson, then a soldier in the U.S. Army. The two were married in Holland, came to the U.S. in 1947, and have resided in Springfield since 1955. Besides the many community activities she and her husband have been involved in, Ils'e was in charge of the therapeutic rehab program at St. John's in Springfield in the 1960's and 70's.

Besides her husband, Ils'e is survived by sisters-in-law Martha Reding of Fort Worth, Texas, and Ginger Gover and Marnie Watson of Springfield. The body will be cremated. Online condolences can be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.