Larry Dwaine Houtchens

November 20, 1933 – June 15, 2023

Celebration of Life on Friday, June 23rd at 2pm

First Baptist Church Arlington - 301 S Center St, Arlington TX 76010

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Thurman in Pantego, Texas -

www.campthurman.org/donate (please add memo “In Memoriam of Dwaine Houtchens”)

Larry Dwaine Houtchens was born on November 20, 1933 and took his last breath on Earth on June 15, 2023 at the age of 89. Dwaine was born in Harrold, Texas to parents Howard Henry Houtchens and Hilda Bildstein Houtchens. He grew up in Electra, Texas and made lifelong friends with his classmates at Electra High School. He went on to further his education at Tarleton Jr College, The University of Texas at Austin and then received his master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. Dwaine had a love for art and was quite talented. He sketched and painted many pieces that are beloved by his family. He even did a mural on a wall at the University Christian Church in Austin, Texas which is still being displayed. Dwaine was a CPA at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co accounting firm in Dallas and then went to work for Southern Union Gas Company in Dallas and later in Austin, Texas. He was Treasurer and CFO for Southern Union Gas and retired from there after over 30 years of service. He still kept up with and visited with co-workers until recently, all of whom held him in very high regard. Dwaine was a long time member of First Christian Church in Lancaster and then of First Baptist Church in Arlington. He was very involved in volunteer work at the Lancaster Outreach Center and Mission Arlington.

Dwaine had a large family that he adored. He was married almost 65 years to Judith Everett Houtchens of Gower, Missouri and had 4 children – Steven Paul Houtchens, Michael Thomas Houtchens, Timothy Brian Houtchens and Kristen Kay Houtchens. He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Hilda Houtchens, his beloved sister and brother, Ydelle Abbott and Doug Houtchens, and his son, Mike Houtchens. He leaves behind his wife, Judy Houtchens of Weatherford, Texas, his son, Steve Houtchens and his wife Bette Houtchens of Los Altos, California, his son, Tim Houtchens and his wife Shawn Houtchens of Arlington, Texas and his daughter, Kristen Cheshier and her husband Chad Cheshier of Burleson, Texas. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Nick Houtchens and his wife Megan Houtchens and their daughters, Callie and Ava Houtchens of Austin, Texas, Caitlin Houtchens and her son, Cohen Houtchens of Arlington, Texas, Taylor Mendoza and her husband, Erik Mendoza of Denver City, Texas, Reece Houtchens of Los Altos, California, Jentry Yates, Lauren Yates, Colten Yates, Keith Yates and Cale Cheshier of Burleson, Texas.

More than anything, Dwaine loved his family. He always provided us with a safe, stable place to call home, where everyone was always welcome. His love language was acts of service and he loved to feed his family. His specialties were hotcakes, chili goop and steak rolls! We could always count on each meal starting with a blessing, which he always led his family in. Dwaine loved to travel and took his family on great adventures all around the country and abroad. Despite a bout with polio at the age of 2 which left him with a weakened leg, he was very active and loved to hike and sightsee. He was a soft spoken, gentle man but if he ever needed to find you, he had the loudest whistle that always called you back to him! Dwaine was also a grand story-teller – the greatest of which was his story of all stories – Bloody Bones Behind the Door! which gripped 4 generations of nieces, nephews, cousins, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dwaine also loved to read stories to the kids. Every single one of us remembers sitting in his lap listening to him read in his silly voices! Dwaine loved to watch baseball and especially to watch his Horns play ANY sport! But even more, he loved being the biggest supporter/cheerleader of anything his family did! He was at every activity, game or event that he could be at for his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids and cheered us all on! He was also well known at all of the ballgames he went to as “the cutest grandpa ever”.

We have lost the rock of our family and will miss him dearly! You could always catch Dwaine carrying his bible or reading it at the table or in his chair. He loved church, loved Jesus and was a living example of God’s Holy grace! We never had to wonder where he would go in death and can only imagine the rejoicing in Heaven when he arrived. There is no doubt he heard these words at the pearly gates, “well done my good and faithful servant.” We know we will see him again someday!