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James Leo Houston, 82, of Marietta, died Monday, October 15, 2007.
Service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory chapel with Dr. Nelson Price officiating. Interment will be in Kennesaw Memorial Park.
James was born in Hogansville on December 12, 1924 and moved to Marietta in 1926. He was a member of Roswell Street Baptist Church and was baptized March 26, 1961. James grew up on Roswell Street and his first job was at the age of 10 as delivery boy for the Marietta Daily Journal. He worked at his father's and uncle's garage on Church Street sweeping the floors and repairing trucks for the City of Marietta. Once he received his driver's license, he was promoted to wrecker driver at the small family garage. James volunteered in an office above the old Atherton's Drug Store for World War II to avoid being drafted. He operated a wrecker during World War II with the 838 ordinance which was attached to Patton's 3rd Army. James earned the rank of Sgt. After returning from WWII, he purchased Crain Wrecker Service from his uncle R.S. Crain. He operated out of a building just off the Marietta Square 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. James sold surplus WWII trucks. He moved the business to Highway 41 after purchasing a piece of property there in 1949. He operated on the same piece of property until his death. There he operated the wrecker service along with an automotive paint and body shop, garage, parts department and scrap yard. Additionally, he owned and operated an automotive paint and body shop on Atlanta Street. In 1952, James opened Crain M&M Sales, an ambulance and funeral car dealership. The business grew to cover eight southeastern states. He owned and operated the dealership until the sale of the business in 1989. Then in 1995, he founded Houston Brothers, Inc., also a funeral car dealership. James received many awards over the years, being named funeral car dealer of the year. In 1956 he bought the Bell Motel on Highway 41, which operated until 1975. James was a Shriner, a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, served a term as president of the Georgia Funeral Supply Salesman Association and has been a member of various Funeral Director Associations across the Southeast. He was inducted into the American Towman Hall of Fame 1991. James received "The Simple Act of Bravery" award from The American Towman Association for his work in and around Marietta and Cobb County during the time he operated Crain Wrecker Service, more specifically for his work in clearing debris from the Atherton Drug Store explosion.
Mr. Houston is survived by his wife, Janice Moss Houston of Marietta; two sons and daughters-in-law, James R. "Jimmy" and Koni Houston of Acworth, Charles A. "Chuck" and Dawn Houston of Marietta; sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Charles Edwards of Marietta; step-brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Margie Houston of Marietta; five grandchildren, Charlie Houston, Erik Houston, Miranda Houston, Valerie Houston, Madeline Houston; nephew, Mike Spence of Marietta. Mr. Houston was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Lindsay Houston.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory chapel with Dr. Nelson Price officiating. Interment will be in Kennesaw Memorial Park.
James was born in Hogansville on December 12, 1924 and moved to Marietta in 1926. He was a member of Roswell Street Baptist Church and was baptized March 26, 1961. James grew up on Roswell Street and his first job was at the age of 10 as delivery boy for the Marietta Daily Journal. He worked at his father's and uncle's garage on Church Street sweeping the floors and repairing trucks for the City of Marietta. Once he received his driver's license, he was promoted to wrecker driver at the small family garage. James volunteered in an office above the old Atherton's Drug Store for World War II to avoid being drafted. He operated a wrecker during World War II with the 838 ordinance which was attached to Patton's 3rd Army. James earned the rank of Sgt. After returning from WWII, he purchased Crain Wrecker Service from his uncle R.S. Crain. He operated out of a building just off the Marietta Square 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. James sold surplus WWII trucks. He moved the business to Highway 41 after purchasing a piece of property there in 1949. He operated on the same piece of property until his death. There he operated the wrecker service along with an automotive paint and body shop, garage, parts department and scrap yard. Additionally, he owned and operated an automotive paint and body shop on Atlanta Street. In 1952, James opened Crain M&M Sales, an ambulance and funeral car dealership. The business grew to cover eight southeastern states. He owned and operated the dealership until the sale of the business in 1989. Then in 1995, he founded Houston Brothers, Inc., also a funeral car dealership. James received many awards over the years, being named funeral car dealer of the year. In 1956 he bought the Bell Motel on Highway 41, which operated until 1975. James was a Shriner, a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, served a term as president of the Georgia Funeral Supply Salesman Association and has been a member of various Funeral Director Associations across the Southeast. He was inducted into the American Towman Hall of Fame 1991. James received "The Simple Act of Bravery" award from The American Towman Association for his work in and around Marietta and Cobb County during the time he operated Crain Wrecker Service, more specifically for his work in clearing debris from the Atherton Drug Store explosion.
Mr. Houston is survived by his wife, Janice Moss Houston of Marietta; two sons and daughters-in-law, James R. "Jimmy" and Koni Houston of Acworth, Charles A. "Chuck" and Dawn Houston of Marietta; sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Charles Edwards of Marietta; step-brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Margie Houston of Marietta; five grandchildren, Charlie Houston, Erik Houston, Miranda Houston, Valerie Houston, Madeline Houston; nephew, Mike Spence of Marietta. Mr. Houston was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Lindsay Houston.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
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