William Fitzgerald Watters was born in Ashburton, New Zealand, and received his secondary school education at Ashburton High School where his father was principal. He initially enrolled at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, to study law but after one year transferred to medicine, qualifying MB ChB in 1933.

Following qualification he spent two years as a house physician and house surgeon in Ashburton Hospital before travelling to the UK for two years postgraduate experience, firstly as an assistant medical officer at St Alfeges Hospital, Greenwich, London, later as a house physician at Queen Mary's Hospital for East End, London E14 and still later as an obstetric house surgeon at the same hospital.

He returned to New Zealand in 1936 and after a years' general practice in Southland, in October 1937 he settled in Blenheim as a general practitioner, quickly building up a thriving practice prior to the war. In 1938 he was appointed tutor in obstetrics at Holmdale Hospital, the Marlborough Hospital Board's maternity hospital in Blenheim. During the war the population of the region increased dramatically with the establishment locally of a large air force camp and several army camps. The greatly increased load of work generated by the additional population was handled by Dr Watters and two colleagues, one less than the four general practitioners in Blenheim before the war.

In March 1940 he was invited to take up the newly established post of part-time visiting physician at Wairau Hospital, the Marlborough Hospital Board's public hospital in Blenheim. He remained as the hospital's sole physician until joined by a junior colleague in 1952. He remained on the Wairau Hospital staff as senior physician on a part-time basis until 1965 when he was appointed to a full-time post. Although he had reached the board's retiring age in 1971, he remained on the staff until his successor Dr Arthur Grebneff arrived in Blenheim in January 1974.

Up till 1952 Dr Watter's general practice included an obstetrics practice. Giving up obstetrics enabled him to concentrate on internal medicine and his particular interest, cardiology. He completed his MRACP in 1960 and was advanced to fellowship in 1970. Postgraduate study leave in 1951 was undertaken over a period of five months in Edinburgh and London. Whilst in London, under the guidance of Dr P.L. Mollison, he received instruction in the new technique of exchange transfusion, a procedure which he introduced to Wairau Hospital and undertook for many years. A further extended period of postgraduate study leave was taken in 1966 in New Zealand, Australia and in London. His knowledge and enthusiasm were principal driving forces behind the setting up of an electrocardiography department in 1943 and an intensive and coronary care unit at Wairau Hospital in 1968. Following his retirement from hospital practice he took up private consulting practice on a part-time basis in Blenheim and continued this until shortly before his final illness.

Dr Watters was always aware of the importance of continuing postgraduate education. Wide reading and conference attendance enabled him to keep abreast of current knowledge in the field of internal medicine. A dignified, gentle and reserved man with a quiet sense of humour, he was unfailingly courteous to both colleagues and patients. Most of his energy during his life as a specialist physician was devoted to the practice of his speciality. Conscientiousness and thoroughness characterised all his professional work. He was unstinting of his time given not only to the consideration of difficult diagnostic problems but also to carrying out his routine ward duties.

 In 1934 Gerald, as he was known to colleagues, married Ettie Hofland. None of their family of one son and two daughters entered the medical profession. Gardening was his major interest away from medicine. He was well known for his interest in and knowledge of rhododendrons. Many fine specimens graced his spacious garden at Annadale, his home on the outskirts of Renwick, a small town eight kilometres west of Blenheim. In later years he became involved in local body affairs and held office in the Renwick Community Council.