The Life of Mrs. Annabel J. Watson

Annabel Watson, age 94, of Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg, PA died on January 8, 2021. She has long looked forward to her new life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and loved ones who have gone on before. Born November 7, 1926, in Penbrook PA, she was the daughter of the late Edward J. and Edna (Holtzman) Pletz. Annabel was a graduate of John Harris High School in Harrisburg, PA. She was preceded in death by two half-brothers, Kenneth and Ernest Pletz, her full brother, Dean and his son, Mark. Annabel's first husband, Lloyd Miller, died in 1984 and second husband, Lester Watson, died in April 2017. Fourteen days later, her adult son Gary Miller, also died. (son of Lloyd). She is survived by her daughter-in-law Layne Miller Vizthum and granddaughter Casey Landis (Scott), grandsons Aaron Miller (Renata) and Christopher Miller, grandchildren Carter and Brendan Landis; and Michael and Remy Miller; sister-in-law Susan Markley (Kenneth), and many dear friends and extended family. Stepchildren Dan (Linda) and John Watson and Sarah (Tom) Sharratt, with daughter Stephanie, also survive her. Annabel loved attending church and being involved in various ways - teaching second grade Sunday School and Bible School, teaching two-year-olds in Mom and Me, attending Adult Sunday School classes. She was a member of the senior choir, took mission trips to JAARS, "Banana Lady" (ministry to Pleasant Acres), and enjoyed fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. She was a member of the Church of the Open Door for over 50 years. Since 2017, she was active at Messiah Village Church and sang in the choir. Annabel enjoyed playing guitar with her husband Lloyd Miller and son, Gary. She later played and sang with a friend who played steel guitar, forming the CAL trio. After losing Lloyd to cancer, she married Lester Watson and enjoyed 33 years together, hiking, biking, and boating. They belonged to a tandem bike-riding club. She also enjoyed regular trips to the shore, basking in the sun on the beach.Annabel was a supportive friend to many, with phone calls and notes of encouragement, never ceasing to convey her love for Christ and others. She will be greatly missed on this earth, and longed that all will one day join her in eternity, not by works, but through a personal relationship with Jesus. A celebration of Annabel's life will be held on Wednesday, January 13, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon from the Church of the Open Door (West York Campus), 8 Carlisle Court, York, with the Reverend Robert Riedy officiating. Due to the pandemic, no visitation will precede the service. Burial will take place immediately following in Prospect Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse, an international, nondenominational, evangelical Christian disaster relief organization. www.samaritanspurse.org.
Arrangements by the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 East Market Street, York, PA 17403.