Theo Walton Pinson III

Theo Walton Pinson III died on Friday evening, March 13, after battling for several years with Alzheimer’s. Theo was the first of six children born to Theo Walton Pinson Jr and Hallie Crighton Pinson in San Antonio, Texas. Being a member of such a large and highly social family no doubt shaped his affinity for large gatherings and his active involvement in his community.

Those who have known Theo best have cited his capacity for developing and maintaining friendships as among his most remarkable talents. For example, he has remained lifelong friends with his fellow cast members of the First Presbyterian Church Children’s Christmas Pageant. While enrolled in Yale University, he took a road trip to South America with two of his classmates. The adventurous nature of the South America trip and the lasting bonds it forged were characteristic of Theo’s travels throughout his life.

While at law school at the University of Texas, and in the subsequent years as a young lawyer in Houston, Theo came to be reputed as the kind of roommate or houseguest who kept life fun and interesting, if not at all orderly or quiet. “Ted Stories” abound, involving accusations of who was driving whose car when it was allegedly “attacked by a deer wrapped in barbwire,” whose puppy micturated in whose Porsche, who kept who up late blaring loud music while falling asleep with a lit cigar in his hand, and other shenanigans. The fact that these stories are told with humor and profound fondness by people who remained close friends with Theo for the rest of his life reveals his gift for holding friends close.

If you frequented Avalon Diner over the past 40 or 50 years, you may have run into Theo, who, when not wearing a suit, was often donning running shorts with loafers and sun hat he bought from a marketplace in Guatemala. Theo’s favorite places to eat were those where people knew him. He enjoyed frequent meals with friends through his memberships with the Rotary Club, Tejas Breakfast Club, and Coronado Club.

Loved ones of Theo recall that he could recommend a book on nearly any subject, and then, quite often, expound upon that book at such length that reading the book was no longer necessary. His bookish side was balanced by an active and adventurous lifestyle, and an enthusiasm for teaching his children how to ride horseback, snow ski, hunt and shoot, fish, and climb the occasional volcano. Theo also “love(d) a good house party,” as he was apt to say.

Theo was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, while maintaining an active social calendar in the city. At the conclusion of one early morning good hunt, Theo removed his hunting overalls to reveal the tuxedo he had worn to a debutante ball the night before. Theo was passionate about aviation and his pilot’s license afforded him the freedom to fly his family and friends to Tarrybank, the family ranch in the hill country, and to other locales throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. He once managed to make it to his friend’s daughter’s wedding in Colorado despite having to make a harrowing emergency landing due to a midair engine failure. Theo loved hunting dogs and took great pride in the ability of each of his dogs to hop in his plane and immediately fall asleep until they arrived at the destination, where they performed impressively on hunts.

Theo enthusiastically embraced new interests and challenges throughout his life, balancing his law career with an array of business ventures as eclectic as the areas of law he practiced, and continuing to adopt new hobbies into late life. He took up marathon running in his early 50s, and subsequently became an avid golfer.

A consistent fixture in his life for over 50 years was his devotion to his church, Palmer Memorial, where he was involved in nearly every activity, from bible study, to volunteering at the church Way Station, to bell ringing. Theo was usually the loudest and most ebullient singer at service despite a singing voice that has been described as “unfortunate,” and was nearly always among the last parishioners to leave, sometimes just standing in awe of the church music until it concluded.

While lacking in musical ability, Theo was the consummate appreciator of music and the arts, and an active member and supporter of DaCamera, the Houston Opera Board, and the Lois Alba Aria Competition. Thrilled that his daughters had inherited their mother’s singing voice, Theo frequently urged them to perform impromptu songs wherever and whenever an obliging piano player was available.

Theo married for a second time in 2014 to Paula Arnold, who has three children of her own, thus forming the “Pinson-Arnold Bunch.” Dinners continued to be quite the events, but now thanks to Paula, the events began at a reasonable hour and often included more family members. Paula filled Theo’s remaining years with immeasurable joy, and she continues to enrich the family with her strength, kindness, and wisdom.

Theo is survived by his wife, Paula Arnold, his brother, Harry Pinson and his wife Karen, his sister Susan Belding and her husband Dave, his sisters Elizabeth Pinson and Kathryn Pinson, his children, Garland Pinson, Catherine Pinson, and Elizabeth Vardaman and her husband Stuart, his stepsons Bill and Jess Arnold and stepdaughter Beth Arnold, his grandchildren, Kendall, Wrenne, Macaslin, and Knox, his step-grandchildren Hayes, Avery, Waylon and Elena, and a slew of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Theo W. Pinson III will be held on Tuesday, March 31st at 2:00 PM at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church at 6221 Main St., Houston. Texas. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Jerusalem Peacebuilders, a charity that was dear to his heart, at www.jerusalempeacebuilders.org.

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