JOHN THOMAS HOUSTON Jr.

ARLINGTON - John Thomas Houston Jr., 74, passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, May 9, 2006, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 911 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. Burial will be at 9 a.m. Monday, May 15, in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo. Visitation was from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 N. Davis Drive, Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Arlington Rotary-Webb School Fund, Box 13612, Arlington, TX 76094. John was born May 31, 1931, in San Angelo. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a link flight trainer and then went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a business degree. He married Mamie Jo Kennedy on Jan. 7, 1952, and had four children. John had resided in Arlington since 1962 and owned a successful business as a manufacturer's representative for over 20 years. His sales specialized in electronics, particularly telemetry equipment for the aeronautic and space industries. He was a member of the Moslah Temple Bedouins and the Royal Order of Jesters. He also participated in the Bedouin Oriental Band and played the memorable part of "The Beggar." He contributed to the Scottish Rite Burn Center by using his private pilot license to become a "Flying Fez" and flew skin grafts and other medical supplies to the Children's Hospital in Galveston. John was an active member of the Downtown Rotary Club of Arlington since 1978. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the Year in 1995. As a Rotarian, his true passion was for the Webb School of Arlington. John organized several trips to Camp Grady Spruce for the school's at-risk youths. He also supplied violins and other musical instruments so the school could begin a music program. He took such joy in seeing those young faces experience something new and exciting. John was an accomplished musician on the violin, guitar and mandolin. He was always ready to get together with friends to "pick and sing." John was preceded in death by his parents, John Sr. and Laura Creamer Houston. Survivors include his wife, Mamie Jo; sister Jean Houston; children Elise Donohoe, Janice Houston Daniel, Tom Houston III and Johanna Houston; grandchildren Tracy Gleeson, Leah Hutto, Brittany Lee, Jennifer Kennedy, Matthew Kennedy, John Houston IV and Scott Houston; and great-grandchildren Hannah Hutto and Aidan Lee.