Dorothy Jean Alcorn

Mrs. Alcorn was born in Houston, Texas on January 24, 1931 to Virgil Alfred Walston and Dorothy Darden Walston. She is predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Charles W. "Chuck" Alcorn, Jr., her brother, Virgil Walston and her parents. She is survived by her sister, Sally Walston Doehring of Houston, three children: Dorothy Anne Henderson and husband James of Galveston; Lexey Elizabeth Wright and husband Richard of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Charles W. Alcorn, III and wife Angela of Houston; grandchildren Gage Sterling Fender of Houston, Katilee Martin Fender of Santa Fe, NM; Dorothy Claire Henderson of San Antonio, Holly Marie Henderson of Galveston; Charles Wagner Alcorn of Houston and William Duer Alcorn of Houston.

Her father was a civil engineer with Humble Oil Company and Dorothy Jean and her younger brother and sister grew up in several oil-related locations including Willis, Texas; Midland, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Midland High School, Dorothy attended Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin. She later attended the University of Houston where she received a BA in English/Education in 1952. She married Chuck later that year and moved to Abilene, Texas where Chuck was a geologist for Warren Petroleum and Dorothy taught third grade for three years for Abilene ISD. After two job-related moves to Midland and Andrews, Gulf Oil transferred Chuck and Dorothy to Victoria in 1961 where they happily resided for the rest of their lives.

After earning her MAIS degree in English Literature/Creative Writing in 1986 from the University of Houston-Victoria, Texas Governor William Clements appointed her a member of the University of Houston System Board of Regents, serving from from 1987-'93 (Secretary '88-'93). She was the first UHS Regent appointed from Victoria. While she was a Regent, she served as Chair of the Facilities and Planning Committee and supervised the renovation of the Wortham House, home of the Chancellor of the University of Houston. In 2015, Mrs. Alcorn gifted her home in the gated community of Hidden Meadows to the University of Houston-Victoria, where it will serve as the residence of the President of the University of Houston-Victoria.

Alcorn was a long-time member of the UHV President's Advisory Board and sat on three UHV President's Search Committees. She hosted the first UHV/ABR Reading Series reception for Graciela Limon in 2006 as well as UHV's 10th anniversary Margin for Excellence Campaign and numerous functions in support of UHV's higher education mission. Mrs. Alcorn received UHV's highest honor, the Presidential Medal, in 1994. Dorothy Alcorn Auditorium, home to the UHV/ABR Reading Series, was named in her honor in 1993.

In addition to her support of higher education in the Coastal Bend, Mrs. Alcorn served as President of the Victoria Junior League and was voted Sustainer of the Year. In 1994, she was voted South Texas Woman of the Year for her tireless efforts on behalf of the community including chairing the Victoria Courthouse Renovation Committee and the Proctor-O'Connor Building Renovation Committee as well as serving on the Victoria Performing Arts Steering Committee. She also served ably on the Victoria Airport Commission, the Brownson Home Board, Guadalupe Victoria Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Victoria Court of Six Flags, the Victoria Symphony, the board of DeTar Hospital and as an Elder of The Session at First Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Alcorn was a passionate life-long reader and a published short story writer. She greatly enjoyed art and music. She enjoyed gardening, photography, and was an enthusiastic breeder of Jack Russell terriers. Dorothy's greatest love was travel with family and friends to destinations far and wide.

The family is eternally grateful for the care, compassion and love shown to her by long-time companions Patty Schroeter, Diana Hinojosa and Alex and Frank Garcia. We are also grateful for the legion of compassionate nurses and doctors including Dr. Larry Riedel, Dr. Fred Lykes and Hospice of South Texas who took such good care of her over the past months.

There will be a visitation at Rosewood Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 28 from 3-6pm. Dorothy's funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, March 1 at 11 am with service music beginning at 10:15am. Burial will immediately follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers for Mrs. Alcorn are: George Alcorn, Sr. Charles W. Alcorn, III, Charles Wagner Alcorn, William Alcorn, Gage Fender, James Henderson and Richard Wright.

Honorary pallbearers will be Carlisle Maxwell of San Antonio, Robert J. Hewitt, Sr. of Victoria, David Engle of Victoria, John Martin of Austin, Roger Welder of Victoria, Duer Wagner, Sr. of Ft. Worth, Venable Proctor of Victoria, Jay Cliburn of Victoria, Jeffrey DiLeo of Victoria and David Petty of Victoria.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Chuck and Dorothy Alcorn Endowed Scholarship at University of Houston-Victoria or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.