March 3, 1917—Nov. 21, 2009

Colin S. Watt Jr. of Orchard Park, a retired design engineer for Bell Aerospace and member of the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame, died Saturday in Erie County Medical Center. He was 92.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he immigrated with his family to Canada and then to the United States, becoming a citizen. In Buffalo, he graduated in 1937 from Technical High School as valedictorian, earning a diploma in machine design.

Mr. Watt joined Bell Aircraft in 1940 and worked there 39 years as a design engineer, specializing in airframes and controls. He worked on many of Bell’s famous aircraft, including the P-39, P-63, X-1, X-2 and the X-22A— the latter, famous for its ability to take off vertically and/or on a short runway. Later, he worked on air-cushion vehicles including the SKMR-1 and the SK-5.

Mr. Watt was a member of the Bell Management Club and Bell Quarter Century Club. He was inducted into the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame.

During his retirement, he became involved in watercolor painting and was a signature member of the Niagara Watercolor Society and a member of the East Aurora Art Society.

He was a member of the Church of the Nativity, United Church of Christ, in Kenmore.

His first wife, Doris Anna Watt, died in 1988.

Survivors include his second wife, Ruth Keller-Watt of Orchard Park; two stepdaughters, Judith Cradler and Laura Mac- Farland; and two sons, Brian D. and David S.

Services will be held at 1 p. m. Tuesday in F. E. Brown Sons Funeral Home, 6575 E. Quaker St., Orchard Park.