William E. Watts, Ii

William Edgar Watts II, devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather passed away on February 12, 2023.  He was born in Laurel, MD on Prince George Street at Laurel Hospital on April 7, 1951 to Edgar and Gerry Watts and sister Sharon.

Bill retired from the Prince George’s County Police Department in 1992 after 23 years of service.  Being such a young man still, he turned his part-time security job into a full-time job at Behnke’s Nurseries where he worked for over 30 years combined.  He was a life member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department; a Mason with the Laurel Wreath Lodge; a member of First United Methodist Church Laurel where he served as a choir member as a boy, to a trustee as an adult and finally as the memorial garden gardener for many years; and the President of the Ivy Hill Cemetery Association.

Bill grew up in Laurel attending Laurel Elementary, Laurel Junior High and Laurel High School.  He joined the Prince George’s County Police Department as a cadette at 18 and became an officer at 21.  He spent time in various parts of the county but most of it in Hyattsville.  He developed a close tie with the Chillum Adelphi Fire Department as a result.  He retired as a Corporal, never wanting to leave the street that he was so dedicated to serve and protect.

He became a member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department at age 16 and had over 55 years of service at the time of his death.  Over the last few years the Saturday morning coffee committee was something he really enjoyed.

He found his green thumb while working part-time security at Behenke’s Nurseries and over time became a certified horticulturalist as a result.  He loved to spend time gardening and spread his love to help others with their gardens.  It was a natural fit for him to start working there full-time upon his retirement from the police department.

Bill met his wife Jan in grade school and they began dating their sophomore year in high school.  They married in 1971 and had over 51 wonderful years together.   Their family grew over the years from children to grandchildren and they were Bill’s biggest joy in life.  From the special Wednesday babysitting day’s, to Sunday family dinners, to vacations in Nags Head, North Carolina- with his family around him it was always a good time.

Bill is survived by his wife Jan (Fiedler) Watts; son Billy (Shari) Watts, daughters Lisa (Guy) Hardesty and Krista (Ernie) Linzey; grandchildren Ally, Willy, Emma, Austin, Lily and Logan; and sister Sharon Watts.