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The obituary notice of Rev. Dr. David Lowes WATSON

Newcastle upon Tyne | Published in: The Journal (Newcastle). Notable areas: Throckley, Heddon-on-the-Wall

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Rev. Dr. David LowesWATSONRev. Dr. David Lowes Watson, was born March 31, 1938 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England and passed away June 20, 2026 in Rowlett, Texas, USA.

David was pre-deceased by his parents Norman and Annie as well as cousins Geoffrey (Julia) and Derek (Jo). He is survived by: his wife of 65 years Gayle; son Timothy (Alicia); daughter Dessa (Peter); grandsons Duncan (Morgan), Mason (Elizabeth), & Simon; great-grandsons Lucas & Samuel; sister Margaret; niece Ruth, great-nephew John; and cousins Leslie (Heather), Yvette (the late Stuart), and Jill (Ross) along with their own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

After serving two years in the Royal Air Force, David graduated in 1961 from Merton College, Oxford University with his secondary schoolteacher certification.

In 1959, David met Gayle when she visited England from Birmingham, AL. Two years of letter writing and one trans-Atlantic telephone proposal later, they were married in Gayle's hometown. After a honeymoon in Niagara Falls, they moved to England where Dessa was born in 1963 and Tim was born in 1965.

From 1958 to 1971, David served as a local lay preacher in the British Methodist Church. In 1971, David & Gayle moved to the US where David would answer his first of many calls from God in service to The United Methodist Church. He received his Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO while serving as pastor at Grace UMC and at Prospect Park UMC.

In 1975, the family moved to Holly Springs, NC where David earned his Ph.D. from Duke University while serving as pastor at Holly Springs UMC. In 1978, he accepted a position at SMU in Dallas, TX as the McCreless Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology. He began writing and publishing which led to invitations across the US and around the world to share his knowledge of and passion for Covenant Discipleship and the words and works of John Wesley and Charles Wesley.

In 1984, David & Gayle moved to Nashville, TN where he served on the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. In 1992, they moved to Mt. Airy, MD where he served as Professor of Theology & Congregational Life & Mission at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. In 1998, they moved back to Nashville (Murfreesboro), where David served as Director of Pastoral Formation for the Nashville Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church and where Gayle served as Senior Pastor at Blackman UMC.

David's sermons were excellent, thought-provoking, and well-known for references to his family, Star Trek, and Monty Python.

David tried retiring but felt God's calling again to serve as Interim Senior Minister at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville. In 2010, he officially re-retired and spent many enjoyable years traveling with Gayle before they moved to Rowlett, TX in 2021 to be closer to family.

The family would like to thank Olanda Gray, Magreth Mellya, Sheila Mutasa, Amity Hospice, and especially the amazing Valliere Smith. Under their loving and respectful care, David was allowed to pass peacefully at home in Gayle's arms. We are eternally grateful.

A memorial service is set for Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary at West End UMC, 2200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203.

Livestreaming of the service can be accessed at www.westendumc.org/livestream A recording of the service may be viewed at www.youtube.com/@westendumc29

An endowment in David's honor is being established at SMU Perkins School of Theology. Gifts may be directed to The Rev. Dr. David Lowes Watson Endowed Scholarship Fund for Evangelism and Covenant Discipleship, Gift Processing, PO Box 750402, Dallas, TX 75275.

On-line gifts can be made through smu.edu/DLWatsonMemorial

Full obituary may be viewed at www.williamsfuneral.com/obituary/david-watson

"Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:23 NIV
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Published: 07/08/2026
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David Watson was my teacher at the Duke’s School in Alnwick, Northumberland in the early 1960’s. He was an inspirational teacher and a lovely man. He gave me a lifelong love of History.
I am so impressed to read of his lifetime of service and his lovely family.
My condolences to them of their loss.
He has clearly lived a lifetime of love and been surrounded by love. How good is that.
David Scott
07/08/2026
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David Watson taught me when he was at the Dukes School Alnwick in the early sixties. He persuaded my brother David and I to host an American student from North Carolina in the summer of 1964. It led to a lifetime of friendship with the student.
So pleased to hear of his subsequent lifetime of service.
George Scott
George Scott
07/08/2026
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funeral-notices.co.uk
07/08/2026
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