General Robert Watson was promoted to Glory on September 8, 2025. He was 91. He is survived by his wife, Commissioner Alice E. Watson, son Major Robert Watson and his wife Captain Anita, daughter Major Carol Ditmer and her husband Major Steve, and son Charles Watson and his wife Deborah, along with eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Robert Watson (Bob) was born in Philadelphia, the third of six siblings, and spent his younger years in Goldsboro, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. The family eventually found their way back to Philadelphia, where Bob graduated from high school.

Bob first encountered The Salvation Army when his mother, Verdie, connected with the local Salvation Army for food assistance. The officers and soldiers shared food and hospitality. Soon, the Watson family was immersed in the whole life and mission of the corps. The kind investments of local Salvationist fellowships wherever the family landed helped lift them out of poverty, changed the course of generations to come, and established them in the grand purposes and service of Christ.

At 20, while Bob was working at a company known globally for its innovations with steel, he was informed by the president that he would be given the best schooling at no cost to become one of their world-class engineers. While tempted, Bob expressed his thanks for the offer and confidently explained God had called him to be a Salvation Army officer. The gentleman was flummoxed, but 50 years later, after more than 44 years of officer ministry, Commissioner Watson found himself consulting on the development of the Philadelphia Kroc Center, which now stands on the long-abandoned site of that firm.

In 1954, Bob entered the “Soul Winners” session at the Training College in the Bronx from the Philadelphia Pioneer Corps. He was also courting Alice Irwin, whom he had met at a youth rally. Lt. Robert Watson was commissioned to the Queens (Jamaica Citadel), NY Corps in 1955. Alice became a cadet that fall, and they were married on June 22, 1957.

The Watsons had corps appointments in Queens (Ridgewood Citadel), NY, Brooklyn (Citadel), NY and Akron (Citadel), OH. They enjoyed fruitful years as youth leaders in Southern New England. Major Bob then had a special assignment to restructure Eastern Territorial Headquarters and subsequently flourished in a new territorial role focused on evangelism. After serving together for 11 years as divisional leaders in Eastern New York, Empire State and Western Pennsylvania, Colonel Robert Watson was appointed as secretary for personnel in 1987 and Chief Secretary in 1989.

His final six years of active service expanded his impact across the USA and the world, first as national chief secretary (1993) and finally as National Commander (1995). At his installation as National Commander, Commissioner Watson said, “More than anything else, we want our lives, our ministry and this occasion to lift up Jesus Christ.”

In 1999, Commissioner Watson presided over the High Council before retiring later that year on August 30. In retirement, Commissioner Watson engaged vigorously for another 21 years in a variety of ministry ventures, including teaching in many board, university and retreat settings on themes in his book, The Most Effective Organization in the U.S., translated into many languages around the globe. Commissioner Watson prioritized his responsibilities as a local soldier. Always a bandsman, his tuba owned the trunk of the car.