Charlie Wade Houston
(MARYVILLE, Tenn.) Charlie Wade Houston, 93, died Friday, April 29, 2016, at his residence in Maryville, Tenn.
The family will receive friends Monday, May 2, at noon at St. Paul AME Church in Alcoa, Tenn. The memorial services will follow immediately afterward. Interment will be at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Alcoa with full military honors.
Mr. Houston was born Dec. 12, 1922, in Randolph County, Ala., to the late Charlie Fred Houston and Claudia Bell Houston Smith. He was married to Elsie Garner Houston for nearly 70 years. Mrs. Houston passed away in May 2013. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Mr. Houston served his country during World War II. Prior to his declining health, he was a steadfast member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Alcoa and served dutifully in many capacities. He was a member of the Alcoa Aluminum Company’s 25-Year Club. After his retirement from the Alcoa Aluminum Company, Mr. and Mrs. Houston traveled extensively throughout the country visiting their children, grandchildren and friends. A longtime season ticket holder, he enjoyed attending basketball and football games at the University of Tennessee, New York Knicks basketball games, and the Kentucky Derby festivities each year. Charlie Wade possessed a great sense of humor and was a master of the “one liner.” As a prolific storyteller, he delighted in telling family members about watching Tennessee football legends play while he stood on a hill outside the stadium in the ’40s and 50s. He enjoyed cooking on his grill for his family during family gatherings.
He is survived by loving children and their spouses, Wade (Alice) Houston of Louisville, Ky., Charles “CA” (Annazette) Houston of Knoxville and Janet Houston (Donald) Hickman of Maryville; three grandsons and eight granddaughters; a step-grandson and -granddaughter; 27 great-grandchildren; a niece and nephew, other relatives, numerous close friends and neighbors. Affectionately called “DC” by his grandchildren, he was also preceded in death by his only sibling, Henrietta Houston Harper.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Mr. Houston’s name to the Charlie Wade and Elsie Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund at Maryville College.
Jarnigan & Son Mortuary, Knoxville.
