Verlin Noel Altom, 77

Verlin Noel Altom, 77, of Houston, Missouri, died Feb. 15, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, surrounded by his family’s love. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

He was born Nov. 5, 1943, in East St. Louis, Illinois, one of the eight children of William and Ella Zohner Altom. 

On Aug. 11, 1973, in New Memphis, Illinois, he married Doris Walthes.

Mr. Altom worked at Obear Nester Glass Factory in East St. Louis until his retirement in 1976. The family then moved to the Ozarks, where he had spent much of his youth exploring. In 1979, they moved to Ellsinore, where he built a home for his family; they spent 15 years there before moving to Houston in 1994.

He was a talented musician. The love of music was instilled in him at age 5, when his sister took him to a Hank Williams show. Some of his other favorite singers included Ernest Tubb, Gene Watson and many other classic country and gospel singers. 

He loved gardening, which was a source of enjoyment for him as well as a means of providing for his family and friends. Some of his most recent achievements included working with Texas County Master Gardeners in helping to build and grow produce in the high tunnel at the Houston Justice Center. He also was very busy working in the Community Garden in Houston. He was known to all as a man with extraordinary work ethic, honesty and integrity.

Mr. Altom attended Community Crossroads Church in Raymondville, as his health permitted. He will be greatly missed. 

He is survived by his wife, Doris; their three children, April Wilson and husband Jon, who teaches at Gainesville High School, Vanessa Ferrell and husband Brian of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Dustin Altom and wife Rebecca of San Antonio, Texas; four grandchildren, Wyatt and Westin Wilson and Collin and Macy Ferrell; one sister, Loretta Rogers; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and his siblings ,Mary Johns, Marieta Murphy, Wilfred “Willy”, William Randall, Lloyd and Delmar.

Evans Funeral Home, Houston, directors.