Clelon E. Houpt of Allen, Texas passed away on November 26, 2021 at the age of 77 from leukemia. He was born on October 28, 1944 to Egbert "Buddy" Merton and Ruth Lorene (Hurst) Houpt in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Clelon graduated from Samuell High School in Dallas and Arlington College (now University of Texas at Arlington) with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He worked at his father's service station, as a security guard, as a number of different coaches and referees for baseball football and basketball, worked in the insurance industry, served as Director of Internal Auditing for the SMU Athletic Department, and was an auditor for the K-Mart Corporation. He was also employed as a staff member for Rep. Alan Steelman, worked as press secretary for Gov. William Clements’ second campaign, and worked as a Regional Manager and Trainer for UniFirst in Austin and San Antonio. In 2004, he started his own business, Tax Express, which he operated in Allen and El Paso. He was a devoted father and volunteer, serving the PTA, the Boy Scouts, Allen Escadrille Band, and as a youth Confirmation Class and Sunday School teacher. He also served as a youth chaperone on many mission and choir trips through Western Hills UMC-El Paso and First United Methodist Church-Plano. Clelon loved all sports but especially loved the Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys, and Texas Rangers. He got to see the Rangers win their only World Series game in-person and enjoyed many Longhorns football, basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball games. He was especially proud to watch Hayden and Graham march and play in the Longhorn Band for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball games.
Clelon is survived by his 4 sons: Kyle Houpt and wife Dianna of Cash, Texas, Peter Houpt and wife Heather of Fort Worth, Texas, Hayden Houpt of Allen, Texas and Graham Houpt of New York, New York. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Hawkins Houpt, Josh Houpt, Jake Houpt, Joey Houpt, Tori Houpt, Caitlyn Houpt, and Nate Houpt, and 8 great-grandchildren: Easton Houpt, Austin Houpt, Colton Houpt, Everly Houpt, Haven Houpt, Copeland Houpt, Skyla Houpt, and Emmie Houpt. He is also survived by family in Arkansas and friends throughout Texas.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Buddy and Ruth, and son Charlton "Chuck" Houpt.
A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 10, 2021 at First United Methodist Church Plano, 3160 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75074.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Clelon with a donation to FUMC Plano’s Youth Ministry or a charity of your choice.