Warren Houston Thomas

Warren ‘Houston’ Thomas, 88, of Linton, IN, passed from this life, on Friday, August 16, 2019, at Greene County General Hospital.  He was born on February 11, 1931 in Cale, IN, to Albert D. and Nancy J. (Taylor) Thomas.  On April 21, 1951, he took Betty J. Collins to be his wife.

Houston served our country in the US Army during the Korean War 1951-1953.  He proudly upheld the Armed Forces Code of Conduct, Article 1, which states “I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.  I am prepared to give my life in their defense.” Houston served in the 116th Engineer Combat Battalion, of the 19th Engineer Combat Group Headquarters as a Corporal and was decorated with the following:  (patches) 10th US Corps & 8th US Army, US Army Corps of Engineers collar insignia, Corporal chevrons, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, US Korean Service Medal (2 battle stars), United Nations Service in Korea Medal, US Army Notorious Unit Commendation ribbon, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Korean War Service Medal. Houston was on the first ship to dock in New York after the Armistice was signed on July 27, 1952.    

After the Army, Houston worked in construction and farming and later became a coal miner, working for Peabody Coal Company for 27 years. He retired in 1987.

Houston was a member of the Oolitic Church of Christ, the UMWA District #12, the Sullivan American Legion Post #139, and the Crane VFW Post #9297.

Family left to cherish Houston’s memory include: his wife, Betty;  son, Tom (Cinda) Thomas of Switz City; daughter, Dawn (Dennis) Sullivan of Linton; five grandchildren: Chelsea (Matthew) Wilson, Kenton Thomas, Shannon (John) Hasler, Randy (Kim) Sullivan, Brandi Sullivan; five great grandchildren: Waylon, Anna, Harlee, Nolan & Sierra; brother, Raymond (Olga) Thomas of Linton; and sisters, Thelma Hoyt of West Lafayette, Marylin Sue Jones of Clarksville, TN and Mary Kelley of Tallahassee, FL.

Houston was preceded in death by:  his parents; 3 brothers, Ward Edward Thomas, Paul Thomas, and Justin Thomas; and two sisters, Alberta Troyan and Pauline Hodges.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at the Meng Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Poindexter Chapel in Linton, with Eddy Owen and Dave Southern officiating.  Houston will be laid to rest in the Linton Fairview Cemetery, with Military Graveside Rites.

Family and friends may call from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Monday, August 19th, and from 9:00 AM until the hour of service at 11:00 AM on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Arrangements were entrusted to Meng Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Poindexter Chapel in Linton. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonpoindexter.com.