Charles D. Watson, a Seventh-day Adventist youth and temperance leader in Britain who went on to serve as president of the church for the Middle East and East Africa, died at a hospice facility in Deltona, Florida, United States on May 26. He was 86.

Throughout his 47-year career working for the church, Watson promoted healthful living in an effort to fight societal drug abuse. He also made member retention a personal goal.

"Anywhere he went he would talk to former youth society members who had left the church," said his longtime friend Reg Burgess. "That was his specialty. Many of them came back into the church as a result."

Watson was born March 22, 1923 in Kenya, the son of missionary parents from Britain. He and his brother kept pet lion cubs as kids, Burgess said.

Watson earned a business degree from England's Devon Technical College before attending the Adventist Church's Newbold College to earn a bachelor's in theology.

He served as an evangelist in Wales and in Northern England from 1943 to 1954 and later established the British Temperance Society while serving as a departmental secretary for temperance in the church's Northern European Division from 1954 to 1959. He also took on the role of Youth and Public Relations director.

After growing up in East Africa, he was drawn back to the region later in life. He served as president of the church's Ethiopian Union and later as president of the church's Afro-Mid East division, based in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1980, he came to the church's world headquarters near Washington to serve as an associate secretary assisting the Temperance department, precursor to the church's current Health Ministries department.

"He was an outstanding recruiter of staff for hospitals in Africa," said Health Ministries Director Allan Handysides. "He was a thoughtful and measured man; a real gentleman."

Watson moved to Florida after his retirement in 1990. He is survived by Kathleen, his wife of 62 years.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2 at the Deltona Adventist Church in Deltona, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Newbold College in Bracknell, Berkshire, England.