William R. Hooton, Jr.

William R. Hooton, Jr. (87) passed peacefully to eternal life on January 14, 2021 in Conroe, Texas.

William, also called “Bill” or “Dub,” was born on May 9, 1933 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to parents, William Ross Hooton, Sr, and Thena Delia Bowers Hooton. He was the eighth of nine children who have all preceded him in death. He graduated in 1951 from Jonesboro High School (AR) and received an Associate Degree in Business from San Antonio College (TX). He served four years (1953-1957) with the US Air Force and was discharged as Sergeant (E5). He was a life-member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, #1836 and #8933, and recently with the Lone Star Veterans Group at 105 Storage in Conroe, Texas.

“Dub” married Mary Nadine Blalock on August 30, 1957 in San Antonio and they had 52 years together. Family who survives: William R. Hooton, III, (son) of San Antonio; Don Patrick Hooton (son) and his wife Tracey of Montgomery; And three grandchildren, Joshua Hooton and his wife Chandler, of Bryan, Daniel Hooton and his wife, Cori, of Houston, and Sarah Hull and her husband Drew, of Nashville, Tennessee.

Bill worked over the course of 57 years with Winn’s Stores of San Antonio, Perry Brothers of Lufkin and Ambers of Waco. In his retired years, he enjoyed substituting in Hudson ISD schools. Bill and Nadine’s home, whether it was in San Antonio, Lufkin or Waco, was a center of hospitality and music with friends. After Nadine’s passing, Bill moved to Montgomery and then Conroe, where his last residence was with the supportive people of Woodhaven Village.

Mr, Hooton enjoyed music. As an accomplished singer early in his life, he performed a solo with a vocal troupe in Carnegie Hall. He was a song-leader in churches of Christ where he worshipped: Highland Boulevard church in San Antonio where he also served as an elder and with both the Timberland drive church in Lufkin and the Sun Valley church in Hewitt (Waco). When he passed, he was a faithful member of the Woodlands Church of Christ in Shenandoah, Texas.

Beyond music, his passions also included gardening, flowers, flower arranging, painting and teaching. His green thumb saw many blooms in her gardens over the years. He made many flower arrangements and was often asked to teach floral arranging classes. And with his wife Nadine, he delved into the art of canvas painting. And if you saw his VHS movie collection, he would invite you to sit down and watch one movie or five with you. He was loved by many.

A private, graveside memorial service is planned at Christine City Cemetery on Saturday, January 30, with pandemic sensitive measures (masking and social distanced). Don Hooton, minister for the Woodlands Church of Christ will preside.

While flowers were a love for Bill, he would have welcomed also, or in lieu of, your donation to HONOR FLIGHT whose mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Mail donations to Honor Flight, Box L-4016, Columbus, OH 43260-4016 or online at honorflight.org.

Honorary Pallbearers :

Mr. William R. Hooton, Jr., son.

Mr. Joshua P. Hooton, grandson.

Mr. Daniel J. Hooton, grandson.

Mr. Andrew D. Hull, grandson-in-law.

Mr. W. Stephen Smith, nephew.

Mr. Tyler A. Rayburn, friend.

Mr. Tim Beamon, friend.

Mr. Harold Hancock, friend.

Mr. Kenneth McDonald, friend.

Special note of thanks to Woodhaven Village (Conroe) and Devotion Hospice (Houston) who worked beautifully and seamlessly to make our father’s journey home both loving and peaceful.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.