Palestine High School Alumni Association

04 / 04 / 1936  –  06 / 15 / 2012

Funeral services for Allen Watlington, Sr. 76 of Palestine, will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday at Bailey & Foster Chapel Palestine with Pastor Phil Chamberlin and Dr. Barry Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Palestine City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey & Foster Palestine.

Allen Kelly Watlington, Sr. passed away Friday in Ennis. He was born April 4, 1936 in Riverside, Texas. He served in the National Guard for 6 years. He had a lifelong career in transportation, including sales, traffic management and transportation consulting. He is preceded in death by his parents James Marlin and Maye Louvena Watlington, his daughter Mary Carol Watlington Pedersen and his grandson Joshua Watlington.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years Ruth Sowell Watlington; sons Allen Kelly Watlington Jr., Joseph Marlin Watlington and Jared Hollenbeck; grandchildren Sarah Pedersen Minton, Christopher Pedersen, Amanda Jo Watlington, Benjamin Watlington, Katie Hollingsworth Williams and Hannah Basset; great-grandchildren Daniel Watlington, Addison Minton and AnnaBelle Pedersen. He is also survived by his brother Joe Nelson Watlington and his sister Betty Lou Barley, and of course many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly and grand-dogs too numerous to name.

Allen graduated from Palestine High School in 1954. He was a man of many talents. He loved music and played in the Palestine Wildcat Band. He began his singing career at Palestine High School as a member of a barber shop quartet. Allen’s musical ability ranged from singing in the Christmas Contata with the church choir to singing “Blue Suede Shoes” while he was impersonating Elvis.

Allen adored children, and from the time he was a young man he spent his spare time during the Christmas holidays playing Santa Claus. Allen didn’t simply play Santa; he embodied that Jolly Old Elf, spreading Christmas magic to hundreds of children through Champions for Children and The Polar Express at the Texas State Railroad. Al was an actor with the Texas Community Theater. In fact, after playing Buford Atomly in “Murder on the Disoriented Express”, Al became inspired to create an Old West drunkard character who became a favorite during his years with The Texas Regulators, a local reenactment group. Al was often seen staggering down the street in local parades and celebrations. Al Watlington loved music; he loved making people laugh; he loved spreading the Christmas spirit; and most of all he loved his family and friends.

Unconditional love is the only kind of love he knew how to give. Those who love him say, “He always had a hug for everyone who needed one.” “No matter what job he was doing, the job that meant the most to him was being our grandpa.” He was Paw Paw to everyone!” “He was the embodiment of love and tenderness.” “You’ve never been hugged ‘til you’ve been hugged by Big Al!” To speak of his own life, Al would probably quote the words to one of his favorite songs: “I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway. But more, much more than this, I did it my way”.

Pallbearers will be Chris Pedersen, Benjamin Watlington, Mike Morton, Jeremy Beck, Tommy Stanfield, Bucky Squyres, Ted Linam, Eric Kludt and Chance Bayless.

Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Riddles, Jim Braswell, Roger Potts, David Smith, Allan Pedersen, John Morris, Joe Marshall Kelly, James Edgar Kelly, Ed Lee and the Texas Regulators.

Condolence calls will be received from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday at Bailey & Foster Palestine. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Champions for Children, 1004 S. Sycamore, Palestine, Texas, 75801.