BILL ROY HOUGHTON, 90, died Nov. 6, 2011, with
burial at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, TX.
He was born July 3, 1921, in Ranger, TX, to J.B.
Houghton & Caroline Oswald Houghton. He attended
Ranger High School at Ranger, TX. He met his
wife, Catherine Murray (RHS-1942) also born and
raised in Ranger, as a child. They grew up together
in Ranger and married in 1946 after Bill had served
his country in World War II as an officer in the
United States Marine Corps. In 1950, they moved to
Breckenridge, TX, where both of their daughters,
Jan and Deborah, were born. In 1953, Bill moved
his family to Mineral Wells to own and operate the
Mineral Wells Daily newspaper. He and Catherine
raised their daughters and resided in Mineral
Wells for 45 years. Here Bill was an active member
of the community. He served on the board of directors
of Holiday Hills Country Club, was a member of the
Lion’s Club and a member of the First Baptist Church.
During their time in Mineral Wells, many summers were
spent at their cabin at Possum Kingdom Lake where Bill
enjoyed fishing and taking his daughters water skiing.
Bill was an excellent golfer and spent many hours
enjoying golfing with his friends. He was also a very
good cook and, in fact, he taught his wife, Catherine,
to cook and they in turn passed this talent to both
daughters.
In 1997, Bill and Catherine moved to Dallas to be close
to daughters, Jan and Deborah, and their families. It
was a difficult decision to leave their home and friends
of 45 years, but it proved to be a good one. They joined
Prestonwood Baptist Church in 1998 and made many good
friends there and were able to enjoy many good times with
their daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill is survived by his wife of 65 years, Catherine; two
daughters and their husbands, Jan and Jerry Smith, and
Deborah and Vance Arnold; five grandchildren; three great-
grandchildren; and one brother, J.B. Houghton (RHS-1940)
and wife, Mary, of Irving, TX.