Donald R. Houston
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Donald R. Houston, 79, of Columbia and formerly of Delavan and Salina, KS, died Sunday, July 4, 2010 at The Bluffs in Columbia, MO. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the First Christian Church in Columbia. Inurnment will take place on July 17th at 10:00 A.M. in Delavan Cemetery in Kansas. He was born December 16, 1930 in Delavan, Kansas to Donald W. and Aura I. (Rees) Houston. Donald, a victim of Cerebral Palsy since birth, grew up in Council Grove, Kansas. He moved to Salina, Kansas when he graduated from high school and attended Kansas Wesleyan University. He was the manager for the KWU Coyote basketball team. He approached the Kiwanis club in Salina and received backing to start a business in the National Bank of America. When the bank remodeled, he was offered a chance to manage a self-serve restaurant in the City-County building in Salina. He ran this restaurant for 25 years, retiring in 1992. He has been a member of the First Christian Church, DOC, all of his life. He has served as a deacon, a member of the board and in a ministerial search. He was on the board of directors at the Salina food bank. He has had the honor of receiving the J.C. Penney Golden Rule award, been commended for his work with Camp Adventure (a camp for handicapped children, and received many accolades from the city of Salina’s Judicial system. Don moved to Columbia, MO, in 2003 and resided at the Terrace apartments until failing health forced him to move. Donald is survived by the following siblings: William V. Houston and wife Donna of Columbia, MO, and Karen K. Poe and husband, Don of Shawnee, OK. A Niece, Amy Smith of Rocheport, MO, three nephews, Russell R. Houston and wife Anita of Columbia, MO, Vincent L. Houston and wife Joyce of Fulton, MO, and C. Dean Poe and wife Tracey of Shawnee, OK, as well as four grand nieces and seven grand nephews. For 79 years he has been an example to both the non-handicapped and handicapped alike with his cheerful positive attitude. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church, 101 North Tenth, Columbia, MO, 65201 or Hospice Compassus at 3050 I-70 drive S.E. Columbia, MO, 65201.
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Donnie was a very positive influence on my life. I met him when I was only 3 or 4 years old as his next door neighbor and friend, but we lost contact when my family moved from Salina in 1958. I’ll never forget his cheerful and positive attitude. I remember his teaching me to throw a lariat when I was 4 or 5 and his always smiling face whenever I spoke to him in the bank. My condolences to Bill, my science teacher and Karen, my first female encounter. God bless you.
Dear Karen, I’m very sorry for your loss. Your Salina neighbor.