Charles Houston Jr.

Charles B. Houston Jr., 81, of Le Roy died Saturday morning, Feb. 16, 2008, at his home.
He was born Aug. 14, 1926, in Spring Creek Township near Le Roy, to Charles B. and Sarah Jane McGahan Houston. He grew up on the farm and attended Plank Rural School and Le Roy High School.

On April 19, 1944, he entered the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II as a radarman aboard the USS Telfair, USS Neshoba and USS Sibley.
On Sept. 21, 1946, he and Mildred Latino were married in California. Upon his discharge from the Navy Aug. 13, 1947, he was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star, American Theater Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal. Following the war the couple lived in California for several years where he worked as a mail carrier. They then moved back to Le Roy. He was a farmer and stockman and also worked as a tree surgeon. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and had served two terms on the Le Roy City Council.

He is survived by his wife; nine sons, Jim, San Francisco, Calif., Charles B. III and his wife, Doris, Excelsior Springs, Mo., Sherman and his wife, Linda, Amarillo, Texas, Wayne and his wife, Sheila, Le Roy, Wes Houston and his wife, Ila, Gridley, Dave Houston and his wife, Becky, Le Roy, Brad and his wife, Deb, Le Roy, Mark, Le Roy, and Dan and his wife, Amy, Garnett; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Sherman, Le Roy.

A daughter, Linda Reed, and a sister, Virginia Thomas, died earlier.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the shelter house in Le Roy Cemetery with a U.S. Navy honor guard conducting military rites.
Memorial contributions to Charles Houston Memorial Fund to offset medical expenses may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.