A gathering of young and old, family and friends, are celebrating a milestone. 50 years. Half a century. Five decades. The big 5-0! The 50th wedding anniversary of “Poolie” and Kirby Watson.
Kirby (Baker) Watson grew up and has spent much time in Coronado over the past 70 years, living her early years during WWII with her Navy family at 1325 6th Street, a historic home passed down from her grandmother since the 1940s. She worked at a local doctor’s office, and was well known about town as one of the “Baker Twins” alongside her sister Edith.
Thomas “Poolie” Watson, from Cadillac, MI, attended the US Naval Academy and graduated in 1954 as an Ensign. He received his Naval Aviator Wings in December of 1955 and reported on the following January to his first squadron at North Island Naval Air Station, Coronado. He would come to meet his future bride at that very house on 6th Street in 1956, when he attended a party being hosted by the twins, Kirby and Edie. They maintained a distant friendship throughout the years as Poolie’s deployments and new duty stations took him away from Coronado.
When in Coronado, Poolie and Kirby and their friends really knew how to throw parties. They lived (separately) at some notorious addresses in Coronado in the 50s and 60s, like the guys’ ‘snake ranch’ at 601 1st and the girls’ place at 409 F. If there wasn’t anything going on there, try the Mexican Village.
Eventually Poolie reported to his new squadron, VSF-1, in Alameda, California across the bay from San Francisco in 1966. It was then he contacted his friend, Kirby, living there with their friends, Phyllis Slagle and Jackie Weathers. A great reunion! The courtship of Poolie and Kirby began in romantic San Francisco. Together after 11 years!
In September, the USS Shangri La (CVA 38) with VSF-1 left for a 7-month deployment which interrupted their relationship. Kirby and their friend, Janet Kinzey, had coincidentally planned a trip to Europe (fate) beginning in Naples, Italy and extending to several countries north. Poolie took some leave (vacation) from the ship to meet with Kirby in Zurich, Switzerland where they became engaged. They were married in Coronado at Christ Episcopal Church in June 3, 1967.
They had two boys while stationed in Okinawa, Japan and returned to settle in Coronado in 1971. They bought their first home at 136 E Ave, where that historical flag flies on special occasions. Their kids, Robb and Rick, attended school at Christ Church and grew up on “The Island” through high school. After the Navy, Poolie worked in the Energy Management field with the Southland Corporation as well as SDG&E until his retirement in 2002; then he joined his sons in their ground transportation business. Kirby has maintained a beautiful home and is an avid, award winning gardener as well as a gourmet cook.
Many things have changed in Coronado and the world in the last 50 years but the traditions continue… Kirby and Poolie, now in their mid-80s, continue to love to entertain family, grandkids and friends at the same home on E Avenue under the Eucalyptus trees.
Congratulations and Happy 50th Anniversary!
