John Curtis Houston, 95, of Morristown, passed away at 11:12 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025, at Morristown Manor in Morristown.
Born February 9, 1930, in Dunrieth, the son of the late James E. and Lucille (Rogers) Houston. He married Helen Hatfield on August 28, 1977, in Shelbyville; she preceded him in death on May 14, 2024.
John was a 1948 graduate of Connersville High School and served in the United States Marines from 1948 to 1950 and in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954. He was the owner of Alta Chinking Company in Darby, Montana where they assembled weatherproof log homes, retiring in 2000. He also was an Elk Hunter guide and a National Champion Canoe racer. John was a member of Vernon Baptist Church. He enjoyed metal smithing, canoe racing, hiking, hunting and being a mountain man. John published in the American Canoeing Club.
Survivors include his sons, Wayne (Dawn) Houston of Freeport, Nicholas (Donna) Abney of Burkesville, Kentucky, and Bruce Abney of Franklin; daughters, Cindy Houston Evans of Greenfield and Ruth Dunlap of Clute, Texas; several grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brother, Bob Houston; and sisters, Mary Ann Hadley and Bonnie Hinchman.
The funeral for John will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Vernon with the Rev. Don Morris officiating. The visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in the IOOF Cemetery in Waverly.
Memorials may be made in honor of John through the funeral home to Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
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