Mr. Granville "Al" Watson, age 80, of Murfreesboro, TN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 6, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Born in Nashville, TN, Al was the son of the late Jehu Montague and Elizabeth Cullum Watson. From an early age, he was captivated by aviation. As a teenager, he began flying at Berry Field in Nashville—famously forging his parents' signature on the permission form to start lessons. He worked at the airport to pay for his training, and once his parents gave their blessing, they were amazed at how quickly he advanced.

Al's professional flying career spanned decades. In the late 1970s, he spent three years in Saudi Arabia as a Learjet pilot, supporting a contract that established instrument approaches throughout the Middle East. Over the years, he flew charter and corporate missions, trained pilots on the Learjet 20 and 30 series, and served as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for Learjet aircraft. His career took him around the world, and he often shared stories of the remarkable places and people he encountered through aviation. Most recently, Al taught aircraft systems at Howell Enterprises at the Smyrna Airport. Known as a "pilot's pilot," he had the rare gift of making complex topics simple and approachable—always with a ready smile and sense of humor. His students not only gained valuable knowledge but also enjoyed his wit and lighthearted jokes, which made learning a joy.

Beyond aviation, Al was a talented amateur musician. He played drums in several local bands, taught himself both electric and bass guitar, and wrote poetry and song lyrics, some of which were performed by the groups he played with. He also loved theater and shared his outgoing personality through performances with the Murfreesboro Little Theater.

Al is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Ruth Watson; his daughter, Lori "Kisa" Watson; his brother, Jerry Watson; and countless friends who became family over the years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his lifelong friend, Hardin Hughes.

Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Savannah Cemetery, Savannah, TN.