Barbara (Budnik) Watson

On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Barbara Watson passed away peacefully in her home at The Summit, Hockessin, DE. She was born on February 9, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York to Fred and Helen Budnik of Valley Stream, Long Island, NY. Barbara was a United States Army Cadet Nurse in World War II and graduated from New York Medical College, Flower Fifth Avenue School of Nursing. She married the love of her life, the late David S. Watson, of Oyster Bay, NY in 1949. They moved to New Castle County, Delaware in 1951, where they resided throughout their 51 years of marriage. Barbara worked as an RN at the old Wilmington General Hospital in Labor & Delivery for several years and worked for many years for Wilmington surgeon, Dr. George Eriksen, until retirement in 1983.

Throughout her life, Barbara was known as the neighborhood nurse, a seamstress par excellence, an artist of counted cross stitch works to commemorate family milestones and her worldwide travels (especially Paris!), the queen bee hostess of memorable Christmas Eve dinners and summer barbecues. During retirement, she developed a passion for golf and was a proud member of the Delcastle Women’s Nine-Holers. Along with her many talents and interests, she lived a life dedicated to her family and their pursuits- sitting for endless hours at swim meets and field hockey games. Her family was truly her joy and proudest accomplishment; her most treasured titles were that of Gran and GiGi. Throughout this long and blessed life, Barbara never lost her love of her native New York or her Brooklyn accent. Barbara was a charter member of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church on Limestone Road, Wilmington DE where she took an active role in the altar guild for many years.

She is survived by her daughters Shirley Bounds (Ronald) of Elkton, MD and Susan Evans (John) of Ormond Beach, FL. Barbara also leaves behind her granddaughter Laura Ferrari (Jake) and great grandchildren Lilly, Jack, Lucy and Eleanor of San Diego, CA and her step-granddaughter Jill Gerringer (Tom) and step great granddaughter Paige of Burlington, NC. The family is very grateful to the Summit staff and administration who surrounded Barbara with their energy, love and attention these past six years.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Thursday, July 7, 2022 from 10:30-11:30AM at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd, Wilmington, DE. A Prayer Service will follow at 11:30AM. Interment will be held at 1:00PM at Delaware Veterans Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, 5320 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 and/or St. Elizabeth School, 1500 Cedar Street, Wilmington, DE 19805.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara (Budnik) Watson, please visit our floral store.