WILLIAM GENE "BILL" HOUSTON

William Gene "Bill" Houston, the 11th child of George and Laura Wilder Houston, was born January 11, 1935, at Dow City, Iowa. He received his education in Dow City where he graduated from high school with the class of 1953. Following high school, he moved to Oregon where he was employed in the timber and saw mill industry.

In 1953 Bill entered the United States Navy and served for four years with three and a half of those years at sea. In 1957, he entered the United States Air Force being stationed in Texas and Florida and was discharged in 1966 at Miami, Florida. During his years in the military he served tours of duty both in Korea and Vietnam.

While stationed in Texas, Bill was united in marriage with Kathleen Fields at Weatherford on December 22, 1958.

Following his discharge from the service they resided for 10 years in Key West, Florida where Bill managed several Resort properties, later purchasing the H&R Block Tax franchise. After leaving Key West they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Bill was part of the management team for a chain of Building Supply companies. During the 80's and 90's they lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he owned and operated a custom Millwork company from which he retired in 1985.

Kathleen died March 16, 2007.

In December of 2007, Bill moved to The Villages, Florida, where he met his wife Sandra Byrum Howland. They were united in marriage there April 11, 2009. He enjoyed chasing his passions of playing golf, traveling across America with Sandy and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of the Civitan Club in Florida and attended the New Life Christian Church in Lady Lake, Florida.

Bill died Friday, December 3, 2010, at the Lane Purcell Hospice House in Sumterville, Florida. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 75 years, 10 months and 22 days.

Including his parents, George and Laura Houston, and his wife, Kathleen, Bill was also preceded in death by three step-children: Connie Hardy, and Larry and James Furlong; six brothers: George, Don, James, Edward, Robert and John Houston; and four sisters: Marion Hamann, Betty Hodkin, Lois Steinkuehler and Jane Heuton.

Survivors include his wife: Sandra Houston of Lady Lake, Florida; grandson: Dennis Hardy of Boca Raton, Florida; three step-daughters: Angela Blackwell of Rochester, New York, Lori and husband, Matt Malawski of Chicago, Illinois and Julie and husband, Carl Markovich of Noblesville, Indiana; 7 step-grandchildren; nine siblings: Margaret Gingerich of Odon, Indiana, Thomas Houston and wife, Jeanette, Roger Houston and wife, Helen of Dow City, Iowa, Russell Houston and wife, Barbara of Spanaway, Washington, Helen Spreng, Kenneth Houston and wife, Rita, Connie and husband, Ron Wood, and Jerry Houston all of Dow City, Iowa, and Kay and husband, Roger Justice of Bella Vista, Arkansas, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 18, 2010, at the United Methodist Church in Dow City, Iowa, with Pastor Tom Peterson officiating. Music for the service included EveVonne Muff singing "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" and "The Lord's Prayer" and the congregation singing "Amazing Grace" and "Victory in Jesus" with Jeanette Kuhlman serving as organist. Inurnment was at the Dow City Cemetery, Dow City, Iowa. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post 444, Dow City and Bugler, Gerald A. Pallesen. Following the graveside rites the family invited everyone to return to the church for fellowship and a luncheon served by the United Methodist Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com, Denison, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements. The family has established memorials to The New Life Christian Church, PO Box 970, Lady Lake, Fl. 32158, or to Lane Purcell Hospice House, 2452 County Road 526E, Sumterville, Fl. 33585.