Submitted by Patricia Keenan, July 30, 2009
Houston Edward Betts – Died 4 July 2009 – Leon County Today
Houston Edward Betts, age 89, of Pasadena, Texas, went to be with the Lord on
Saturday, July 4, 2009. He was born September 27, 1919 in the Centerview
Community near Centerville, Texas, to Carl and Orpha Ward Betts.
Houston was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 65 years. He worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Palestine for 12 years. In 1954, he moved his family to Pasadena, TX where he worked for Charter Oil and Gas until retiring in 1985. Houston became a Christian at an early age and loved the Lord. He was a member of South Avenue Baptist Church for 56 years where he served as a deacon for many of those years. He valued education and encouraged young people with financial support and sound advice. Even when Houston was deaf and almost blind, he continued to bless others with his unique sense of humor, positive attitude, godly counsel and optimistic encouragement.
Houston’s first wife, Irene Sumrall Betts, preceded him in death in 1979 after 37 years of marriage. He is survived by Mildred Bradley Betts, his wife of 28 years; two daughters, Beverley (Bill) Boyd of Houston and Debbie (Mike) Williams of Cypress; two step-daughters, Brenda Anderson of Pasadena and Theresa Wheeler of Wyoming; two grandchildren, Steven (Sarah) Boyd and Jennifer (Doug) Miller of Bedford; three step-grandsons, Corey Wheeler of Wyoming, Charley and Jimmy Anderson of Pasadena; three great grandchildren, Alyse and Grant Miller and Matthew Boyd. He will also be missed by friends and other relatives.
Pallbearers were Steven Boyd, Douglas Miller, Bill Boyd, Mike Williams, Arthur Dunn and Jarvis Hassell. Honorary pallbearers were Charles Anderson and Jimmy Anderson.
A funeral service was held at 1 PM on Monday, July 6, 2009, at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas. (www.waltersfuneralhome. com) The service was under the direction of Walters Funeral Home.