George Nicholas Wathen

June, 09, 1947 - March, 26, 2022

George “Nick” Nicholas Wathen, Jr born in Louisville, KY passed away on March 26, 2022 at Baptist Health Floyd Hospital in New Albany, IN.

Nick was born 1947 to father, George N. Wathen and mother, Lucille Wathen.  He was the first born of five children for George and Lucille and was fortunate to grow up in the most loving family.  He was a transportation foreman for Courier Journal until mid-90s.  He worked hard for a Masters in Business and built a successful tax accounting business, Hero Tax, in Louisville KY. 

Nick enjoyed ballroom dancing for many years and even became a dance instructor.  He loved ping pong, racquetball and beating family members in any and all board games.  He earned an advanced certification in scuba diving and dove several times in the Republic of the Marshall Islands with his daughters (and many sharks).  He loved going to the Jeffersonville Outback bar and felt like ‘Norm’ from the TV show Cheers every time he walked in.  Steve Martin was his favorite comedian.  He was a jokester who loved to make people laugh.  He could recite every line from the Airplane and Naked Gun movies.  No one was a stranger; he could strike up conversation with anyone. 

Nick fiercely loved his two daughters, Natalie and Julie.  When his two daughters were growing up he loved to play video games with them, watch dance recitals, take them to ride the biggest, tallest, and fastest roller coasters, take road trips singing loud the whole way to music by Heart, Fleetwood Mac, and Guns N Roses, and attend ball games where both girls cheered and danced.  He was always in their corner and did everything he could to ensure their success in life.  There was nothing in the world his girls could do wrong that he wouldn’t be in their corner ready to help them through.  His love and support for his girls was unwavering. 

Nick also adored his 10 year old grandson, Wylie.  He loved to snuggle and watch cartoons and movies with Wylie.  Most of all, he loved playing board games whether it was Go Fish, Candyland, and Chutes and Ladders when Wylie was younger…..or Boggle, chess, checkers, Monopoly, and Sorry as he got older.  Wylie was so proud to show his Grandpa Nick that he was a pitcher for baseball and always wanted to show him videos of him pitching.  He also loved to show Grandpa Nick how he could play AC/DC and other rocks songs that grandpa liked on his electric guitar.  Grandpa Nick visited Wylie in the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, and Alabama.  He’d travel anywhere to see his boy.

Nick is survived by his two daughters Natalie Wathen and Julie Savage; his grandson Wylie Savage; his brothers Larry Wathen and Terry Wathen, and his sisters Joanie Prentice and Kay Wagoner. 

Cremation has been chosen and Magnolia Cremations of New Albany, Indiana has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make a charitable donation to an organization of your choice.