Ronald Dean Watts

Ronald Dean Watts, 75, died at his home in Republic, July 27, 2021. He was born Aug. 7, 1945, in New Orleans, La.
He married Deborah Watts, June 2, 1978. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Watts, and sister, Carolyn Ann “Sugie” Richardson.
Watts is survived by his wife, Deborah; children, Dena Marques (Alex), Jeffrey Watts, Lori Estes (Davey), Angela Ford (Gregg) and Michael Watts (Teri); mother, Dorothy (Smith) Watts; brothers, William Watts (Janice) and Kenneth Watts; aunt, Flo Lopeman; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Watts was a 1963 graduate of Springfield High School in Springfield, Ill. After graduation, he entered the US Navy, serving in Vietnam as a fireman on the USS Theodore E. Chandler.
He returned to Illinois and began his career in automotive services, working at Ford, American Motors and Chrysler dealerships. Later, he was service manager at Countywide AMC in Garden Grove, Calif. He retired in Missouri as service manager at Ozark Chrysler Dodge. A celebration of life with family will be held at a later date.