Herbert William Houston Jr.

Long time Yuma resident and businessman, Herb Houston, died in Yuma, Arizona at the age of 93. Herb is survived by his wife, Maximina; his children, Linda Dunn of Largo, FL and, Jim Houston of Seattle, WA; Step-children, Cecilia Geeslin of Artesia, NM, Edward Rene Fette of Yuma, AZ, Mark Fette of Kermit, TX and Elizabeth Robin Fette-Vuksan of Somerton, AZ; grandsons Curt and Brian Dunn and Decker Houston; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, H.W. “Hub” and Ethel Houston, sisters, Laura V. Taylor and Angeline Tait, and brother, John Sam Houston.

Herb was born on December 20, 1928 in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1947 and went on to attend classes at California Polytechnic State College which is now known as California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

In 1962, Herb’s father, Herbert W. “Hub” Houston Sr, came to Yuma and started Houston Photo Company, later becoming Houston International, Inc. The company manufactured film and paper processing machines for large film processing laboratories here in the United States and in other countries around the world as well as operating a film processing lab developing film for Yuma Proving Ground. Upon the retirement of his father, Herb became president of Houston International and remained in that position until the corporation was sold in early 2021.

Herb thoroughly loved to go hunting for deer and elk with friends and family. He also enjoyed flying and boating. Herb was very involved in the Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and along with his wife, Maximina, was involved in the Curcillo Movement of the Church. Both he and Maximina were Eucharistic ministers.

Herb enjoyed sharing stories about his father, “Pop” and Pop’s working with and for Howard Hughes. He also liked to share with people his experiences of living in Russia from 1935 to 1938, when Pop took his family to live in Moscow while he helped install film processing machines there.

Even though Houston International eventually ceased the production of film processing equipment as a result of the new era of digital photos and the buildings eventually being sold, the new owners of the buildings left open office space for Herb to continue working. Up until the spring of 2020, Herb continued to go into work on a continuous basis, after which he eventually retired.

A viewing from 3 to 6 p.m. followed by a Rosary service will be held at Johnson Mortuary on Sunday, May 1, 2022. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Yuma followed by a graveside ceremony at Desert Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsonmortuaryyuma.com for the Houston family.