Donald Clyde Watts, 76, of Madison Heights, passed away peacefully in his daughter’s home on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Don, or Donnie to his childhood family and friends, was born on October 14, 1949, the son of the late Ernest Clyde Watts Jr. and Cassie Bradner Watts. He grew up in Charlotte County, Virginia, and graduated from Randolph Henry High School. In high school, Don played the trumpet in the Avantis Band. On the night they graduated from high school, he went on his first date with Brenda Canada, and they later married and had three children together. Although they eventually divorced, they remained friends and co-parents for the rest of their lives, and enjoyed holidays, birthdays, and family vacations together with their children and grandchildren.

Don earned a B.S. in Accounting from Virginia Tech in 1973. His passion was Virginia Tech football. He avidly followed Virginia Tech news and sports and was a Virginia Tech football season ticket holder for decades. Two of his happiest places on Earth were tailgating in Grandma’s Lot and cheering on the Hokies in Lane Stadium.

Don’s joy was his family. He is survived by his three children, Shannon Watts (Paul) of Lynchburg; Lisa Wiliams (Billy) of Madison Heights, and Bryan Watts (Paula) of Madison Heights, and four grandchildren, Logan Watts, Cora Williams, Parker Williams, and Tiffany Palmer (Andrew), sister Carolyn Watson (Louis), nephew Jeffrey Watson, and niece Amy Watson. Don loved cookouts and dinners at his children’s homes, listening to Logan play the cello, cheering on Cora in her extracurricular activities, talking to Parker about soccer or golf, and teasing Tiffany. The most active person in the family text group, a day rarely went by that Don wasn’t texting the family a link to an article that he thought they might enjoy or sharing something beautiful he saw that day. His kind heart and big smile will be missed by everyone who knew him.

A cheerful Celebration of Life will be held in Fall 2026 on a Virginia Tech football game day. The specific details and date will be shared at a later date. To honor Don’s memory now, attend or watch a Virginia Tech sports event, and think about him while raising a glass in his memory, and shouting “Let’s Go Hokies!”

Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Holtzman Alumni Center 0102, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Madison Heights is assisting the family.