Thomas B. Houston
November 7, 1932 ~ May 3, 2020
Thomas B. Houston passed from this life on May 3, 2020. He was born in Bangor, Maine and spent his young life there. He also lived in Hawaii and Rhode Island before moving to Mentor at age 8. He graduated from Mentor High School in 1951 and also graduated from Western Reserve University in 1955 with a Bachelors Degree in Geology. While at college he was an Air Force ROTC member and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation. Tom spent three years serving as weapons controller in Alaska and Iowa as part of the Air Defense Command.
Tom attended the University of Cincinnati after being honorably discharged, then began a 34 year career teaching Earth Science for the Mentor Schools, mostly at Ridge Junior High School. During the summer, he worked construction and as a geologist in Wyoming, Texas and Alaska for Diamond Shamrock. Later, he and his family traveled with a tent camper throughout the U.S., touring the National Parks.
Tom was a volunteer gymnastics coach for the Painesville YMCA. He also led hikes through Penitentiary Glenn for the Lake Metro Parks and through Stebbins Gulch for Holden Arboretum.
Tom’s education continued by getting a Master’s degree in education at John Carroll University and many more graduate courses at Kent State University. He was also a long time member of the First Church of Christ in Painesville. He served as Elder, Church Board Chairman and teacher of the Volunteer class. He also helped with the North Madison Church of Christ teaching and with the missions program.
During his retirement he taught Physical Science at Lakeland Community College. He added to his volunteering by working in the paleo botany department at the Museum of Natural History in Cleveland. He also enjoyed sailing his catamaran on Lake Erie, fossil hunting and traveling extensively with his wife, including going to Cleveland Indians Spring Training.
Tom is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois Ann Houston; daughters, Lorilyn Houston, Leta Houston Hickey (Jim); grandchildren, Houston and Avery; sisters-in-law Irene Rhoton and Marilyn Rayment (Jack). He was preceded in death by Ralph and Margaret Houston; brother-in-law Robert Rhoton and parents-in-law, Everett and Mirabelle Behm.
A private service will be held at Perry Cemetery conducted by Dr. Trevor Littleton. Behm Family Funeral Home of Madison, OH is assisting the family. Contributions or memorial gifts may be sent to First Church of Christ, 422 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, OH 44077 or to Hospice of the Western Reserve, PO Box 72101, Cleveland, Ohio 44192.
Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com
In memory of Thomas B. Houston, Mikaela and Peter Bolek and family lit a candle
Tom welcomed me to Mentor Schools back in 1984. He was my mentor teacher and helped me to build a quality curriculum. Tom was very giving, sharing everything he had. I feel very lucky to have been able to learn from one of the very best! How many students will remember his shark dissection lab? In addition to our professional relationship, Tom and I became great friends. We enjoyed many lunch meetings at the Great Lakes Mall and several sailing trips on his boat. Tom had a special kindness. He was always looking at the positive side of things. I will miss you my friend!
Lois and Family, I had the pleasure to teach with Tom at Ridge. He was a very well respected and genuine teacher who did some amazing things with his students. Perhaps the one that will stick out for many Ridge Alum's would be the Great Shark Week, When he would dissect sharks……man would the halls of Ridge smell! The students loved that experiment and many others which he used during his career in teaching. I felt very honored when he invited me and my wife to sail with him on his catamaran. Boy did we get an experience. First time on one and we brought a cooler and little did we know how that wasn't really going to fly. Ha Ha. He was a mentor to many and I was fortunate enough to have him as one of mine from a distance. He along with the Great's — Chuck Cost, John Goertz, and Bob Wolf all were pillars at Ridge Junior High. He will be sadly missed by many but I am sure Heaven gained a Great Soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Chris and Laura Parsons
I had Mr. Houston for Earth Science at Ridge Jr. High School in 1985-1986. He made learning fun, and was always a great guy and a class act. He made a positive impact on untold legions of students in the Mentor Public Schools. My condolences to his family. He will be missed and fondly remembered.
When I retired from teaching, Tom gave me invaluable financial guidance in setting up the terms of the buyout the district had offered me. How and why he knew and offered exactly what I would need to do only God knows, but I know how much I owe to both Tom and Lois Ann. His work at both Holden and CMNH (where I sometimes encountered him) was another gift I saw him give to many. Though he'll be missed here, knowing we'll meet again is certain. Emily Walker
prayers for healing to Tom's family and friends. he and I were at Ridge for 30 years. there is a pin oak planted in honor of those of us who retired together. it has always hang on my den wall. I continue to remember Tom with fondness. David Bowden, Wooster OH.
We are thinking of you.