John “Jack” B. Watson, Jr.

John “Jack” B. Watson Jr., of Columbiana, AL, formerly of Cranford, NJ, passed away on February 15, 2024, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 84.

Born in Newark, NJ, his family moved to Cranford in 1946, where he lived for most of his life until moving to Mobile, Al in 2015 with his wife Ellana to be closer to their son Douglas and his family. He relocated to the Birmingham area in 2017.

Jack graduated from Cranford High School in 1957, and from Rutgers University School of Pharmacy in 1962. He joined the NJ National Guard and served for six years as a medic, making several friends he still had to this day. After graduating and receiving his pharmacist license, he worked at several local pharmacies before becoming Director of Pharmacy at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Elizabeth NJ. He retired from the hospital in 1999 after 30 years of service.

Jack was a kind, funny and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He loved riding the train into New York City and giving directions to anywhere in “only 2-turns.”  He and his family were active members at Osceola Presbyterian Church in Clark, NJ. Jack enjoyed his summer vacations in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts for over 60 years, after being introduced to Martha’s Vineyard as a boy at 12 years old. He made life-long friends there and enjoyed walking, reading, sitting on the beach, and waving to passers-by from the porch. No matter where he was, he was always sharing a smile and making people laugh with his quick wit and dry sense of humor. He was beloved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Ellana L. Watson; his sister Elizabeth Watson Dennis; father, John B. Watson Sr.; and mother, Bessie B. Watson. He is survived by his daughter, Heather (Michael), his son Douglas (Collene), nephew Kevin Gallagher, niece Karin Critelli (Thomas), and grandchildren Addison and Thea Watson and Elizabeth and Mitchell Critelli.

He will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs, MA. A Celebration of Life will be planned over the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association in Oak Bluffs, MA, or Osceola Presbyterian Church in Clark, NJ.