Doris Finch Watson

Doris Finch Watson, 91, Historian and Community Leader. Doris Finch Watson passed away peacefully at her home in Banksville, NY on Tuesday, December 30, 2014. Dorrie was a lifelong Banksville resident. She was the beloved wife of her deceased husband William J. Watson, Sr. She is survived by her three children, Phoebe and her partner Drew, of Stamford; Walter and his wife Mary Jane, of Banksville, and Bill, Jr. and his wife Carmel, of Cape Cod, MA. She was the grandmother of five; Tucker, Casey, Kiley, Samuel, and Kimberly. Dorrie was part of “The Greatest Generation”, serving in a Thompson sub-machine gun factory during World War II. She graduated from secretarial school and later attended Columbia University. After the war she met Bill and they were married on December 9, 1947. During the early 1950s she was the personal secretary to Henry Fonda. Dorrie and Bill ran Finch’s Country Store in Banksville. She was the fourth generation of the family to run the business which was opened in 1860. Her children became the fifth generation to run the store. Her passion was history and she was an avid antiquarian. She helped form the North Castle Historical Society around her dining room table in 1971. She served as president and had always served on the board of directors. She was instrumental in having the East Middle Patent School house, the Brundage Blacksmith shop and the Quaker Meeting house moved to the Historical Society’s home in Armonk. In addition, she served in many other community positions, including program director for the Banksville Community House for years. She was an honorary member of the Banksville Fire Company where she helped in fund raising and securing a section of land which helped the firehouse expand to what it is today. She worked up until the time of her death for the Middle Patent Rural Cemetery as the burial director – a position she held for nearly 50 years. Arrangements are as follows: The wake will be at the Ballard Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple Ave, White Plains, NY on Sunday, January 4th from 6 to 9 pm. The funeral service will be held at the Bedford-Presbyterian Church, 44 Village Green, NY on Monday, January 5th at 10 am. Burial services will follow at the Middle Patent Rural Cemetery on Middle Patent Rd, Bedford, NY following the service. Dorrie was a loved and respected member of her family, friends, and the community in general. She was always willing to help out with any project and she will be missed by everyone. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Banksville Community House, 12 Banksville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831.