Helen Payne Houk

Helen Payne Houk, an early pioneer for women in local business and a much loved and distinguished Waco resident, departed this life on September 8, 2007. Services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 12 at the First United Methodist Church of Waco with Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood cemetery. A longtime Waco resident, Mrs. Houk was born on April 12, 1910 in Hillsboro to Dora Butler and David Thomas Payne. The second of three children, she was preceded in death by her parents, husband Herman W. Houk, sister Lillian P. Lightfoot, brother David B. Payne, and niece Barbara P. Scott. She is survived by her nephew Pat Payne and his wife Patty of Naples, Florida and their children Greg, David and Alysha and their children; niece Nancy Peterson McGovern and husband Bill of Waco, nephew, John Taylor Peterson and wife, Janie and their children, Anne and Taylor and their spouses; special cousins Margaret and Lois Hughes, and a host of other family and friends, including dear friend Harry Jeanes. Mrs. Houk graduated from Central City Commercial College in Waco. While embarking upon her banking career she attended evening classes at Baylor University and numerous seminars of the Texas Savings and Loan League. She graduated with honors from the National Academy of Business Colleges. Mrs. Houk married Herman Whitelaw Houk in 1938 and relocated to Houston. She was a homemaker there until she was widowed in 1946. She returned to Waco and began her business career when she joined First Federal Savings and Loan as a teller in May, 1947. She retired in 1990 at the age of 80, culminating a forty three-year career. During her career Mrs. Houk held positions of Assistant Vice President, Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, Director and Corporate Secretary. She was elected as the first managing officer of the first branch office of First Federal now First Guaranty Savings. In 1978 Mrs. Houk was named a director, one of the first women directors elected to the board of a major local financial institution. Mrs. Houk was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco where she served on the finance committee and board. She was also a member of Odell Dudley’s Sunday school class. Her other activities include the Cotton Palace Chapter of ABWA, Quota Service Club, Heart of Texas Chapter of National Association of Banking Women, member of the Women’s Council of the Waco Symphony, board director of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and member of the McLennan Community College Occupations Advisory Committee. In 1990 Mrs. Houk was recognized as a YWCA Pathfinder of Waco-McLennan County in Business and Finance. The Pathfinder Award honors women who have had significant achievements in a field of endeavor and have made worthy contributions to society. In addition to her many business accomplishments Mrs. Houk enriched the lives of her family, creating a loving home and caring for her mother, sister and an aunt for many years until their deaths. She then began to travel the world with her cherished sister-in-law Iris Patterson Payne. From 1973 to 1992 their trips took them to over 50 countries and six of the seven continents of the world. Special in her memory were visits to the Holy Land, Egypt, China, Russia and Africa. At an age when many retire to a quieter life, Mrs. Houk was riding camels and floating over Africa in a hot air balloon! Special thanks to the staff of Ridgecrest Retirement Center, the caregivers of Visiting Angels, and to very special caregiver and companion, Nancy Bledsoe. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Waco, Baylor University, or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY