Jesse Lewallen

Jesse was born in Wilson, Arkansas on November 7, 1924. As a boy, he moved with his family to a farm outside of Alice, Texas. In 1924, Jesse graduated from Ben Bolt High School with recognition for outstanding penmanship and spelling. After graduation, he joined the Navy. He served with Squadron VD-3 in the Pacific Theater and flew as an Aviation Radioman First Class on a plane nicknamed “Hound Dog”.

In 1946, Jesse married the love of his life and his best friend, Vera Evelyn Webster. They were married for 68 years. Jesse bought his own 100 acre farm on the road between his parents and Vera's parents and raised cotton and grain. He also worked as a clerk at a Humble Oil pumping station outside of Alice. In 1959, he moved his family to Houston and became a Right of Way and Claims Agent as part of Standard Oil's acquisition of Humble Oil. Although he hated leaving the farm, it was a wonderful opportunity for a man with only a high school diploma. He worked for Exxon until he retired in 1986. His job was to talk to farmers and ranchers and get permission to lay pipeline through their land. Being a farmer himself, he understood their fears and misgivings, so he was the perfect person for the job. After retiring, he was hired back as a consultant until he was well into his 80s. He assisted the legal department in transferring all of his hand written files into a data base.

When the Lewallen family moved to Houston, they needed a church home in the brand new neighborhood of Sharpstown. Because the community was so new, there was no Baptist church, so they started one with 11 other families in 1959. Jesse was a deacon, active choir member, and on every committee available to him. He and Vera were sponsors for the Sharpstown Baptist Youth Choir that toured the country under the direction of Merrill Luman for many years. Even after their own children went to college or left home, they continued to travel with the choir, making memories and creating long friendships that have lasted for decades.

Jesse had a beautiful baritone voice and loved to sing. He could sing almost any Baptist hymn from memory even into his 90s. Jesse loved working with his hands. He could take apart the engine of a VW bug, build furniture, and repair almost anything in the workshop in his garage. He tilled up some of his backyard and created a seasonal vegetable garden. He loved birds, feeding deer out of his hand, and being in the country. Jesse enjoyed reading, whether it was a magazine about planes, a historical novel, a biography, or the newspaper. He was an avid sports fan. He had season tickets to the Rockets, Oilers, and Aeros Hockey teams and listened to Milo Hamilton call the Astros on the radio. Jesse and Vera traveled with their family and friends all over the United States and Europe. They instilled in their children and grandson the adventure of a road trip and joy of a picnic at a roadside park. Jesse loved people and never met a stranger. If he did not know a man's name, he would call him “Tiger” and salute. He will be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor, generosity, and genuine kindness to everyone.

Jesse is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John and Vicki Lewallen; his son, Jerry Lewallen; his daughter, Joy Lewallen; four grandchildren, Isaiah Lewallen, Susannah Rials, Erin Stark, Kristin Lewallen; great granddaughter, Molly Stark; sister-in-law, Eva Lou Cauthen; sister, Audrey Jenkins; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held January 4, at Earthman Funeral Home 12555 Kirkwood from 5-7. Services will be held on January 5 at 2:00 at Tallowood Baptist Church Chapel 555 Tallowood Dr. Burial will be at 11:00 on January 6 at Alice Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Barton House and Vantage Hospice for the care they gave Jesse for the last year and a half of his life. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Meals on Wheels, Galveston Nature Tourism, The National Park Foundation, or the charity of your choice.