Homer Marvin Batten Jr.

Homer (H.M.) Batten, Jr., 86, Passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2013. He was born in Houston, Texas on September 30, 1926, to Homer and Ruby Batten. He was raised on the north side of Houston at 1625 Margaret Street, in a one bedroom home. Where he was taught how to raise farm animals, and grow vegetables, that they shared with family, friends and neighbors. He graduated from Jeff Davis High School, in 1944 at the age of 17.

He wanted to quit school and enlist in the Navy to fight for his country, but his mother wouldn’t sign his release until he graduated school. He served in WWII as a Navy Seaman Second Class, on the USS Nevada. One of his duties on board ship was loading the 14”guns with ammunition when in combat. When they found out he could cook, he cooked for the Captains and ships officer’s. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, the troop ships carrying the Army invasion forces were not seen or heard from, he was chosen to be on a Navy invasion force, while waiting to be deployed, the Army finally responded, and he was glad he did not did not have to go.

He married Joyce Faulk on November 26, 1948, at Beneke United Methodist Church, and built a nearby home at 9024 Lomax, where they lived for sixty four plus years.

He was an electrician in his early 20’s, working out of town for weeks at a time, in the construction of the Dow chemical plant located in Freeport Texas. After the birth of his son, Daniel Marvin Batten, he elected to find another career due to being away from his family. He found employment at the local natural gas company in 1952, where he worked until his retirement, with 36 years of service, from Entex Gas Company. He had several job tiles, over his career, as a helper, meter installer, service specialist, air condition specialist, promoted to field supervisor, and then service manager.

He enjoyed helping his neighbors, church, and family do any type of home repairs, auto repairs, or explain how you go about repairing them. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends, and family. He built a lake cabin in the early 1960’s with his best friend Archie Buchannan and his family on Horseshoe Lake, an old Ox bow of the Trinity River, by Romare Texas, where he enjoyed going, spending many vacations, and weekends, relaxing and fishing, with friends and family.

He has been a member of the Melrose Masonic Lodge 1294, for over sixty plus years.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Batten, son, Danny Batten, daughter-in-law, Patsy Quast Batten, grandson, Ryan Batten, and wife, Maria Batten, granddaughter, Brittany Batten Riddle, and husband, Ryan Riddle, great granddaughter’s, Audrey Batten and Sophia Batten, great grandson’s, Trey Riddle and Drew Riddle.

Visitation on Sunday, March 24, 2013 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.at Brookside Funeral Home. Funeral service on Monday 25, 2013 at 3:00pm, at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039, 281-449-6511. In Lieu of Flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC, 20090-6011, or call 1-800-272-3900.