ALDERSON - Thomas Eldridge
"Nat" Housby, 68, died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005, following a sudden
illness while vacationing in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Born June 30, 1937, at Alderson, he was the son of the late Eldridge
Grayson and Gussie Jane Ballard Housby. In addition to his parents,
he was preceded in death by a son, R. Stephen Housby.
Mr. Housby was a retired carpenter, having retired in 1988 from the
Federal Bureau of Prisons, Alderson, after 25 years of service. He
was currently employed by Simmons Building Specialties, Alderson,
was a ticket salesman for many years at the State Fair of West
Virginia, Fairlea, and through his high school and early years was
employed by Housby Brothers Construction, Alderson. He was a 1955
graduate of Alderson High School and attended Concord College,
Athens, and West Virginia University, Morgantown. He was an active
member of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, Alderson, where
he had served as trustee, was a member of the Methodist Men and the
Aldersgate Sunday school class and was chairman of the Pastor Parish
Relations Committee and served on various church boards and held
various church offices over the years.
Mr. Housby was a very active member of many community organizations.
He was former Mayor of the Town of Alderson, and was currently
serving on Alderson City Council. He was a member and past president
of the Alderson Lions Club and was chairman of the Lions Club Adopt
A Highway Committee and was chairman of the annual Christmas tree
sale. He assisted the Alderson Rotary Club with the annual Alderson
Christmas Celebration for many years. He was co-chairman of the
Alderson Fourth of July Committee and was a very active member of
the Fourth of July Committee for 40 years. He was a member of
Alderson Main Street, the Board of Directors of the Alderson Depot
Museum, member of the Board of Directors of the Alderson Community
Center for the Arts and Humanities, was a member of the Historic
Alderson Memorial Bridge
Restoration Committee, helped clear the land for the first Little
League field at Alderson City Park and remained active with Alderson
City Park over the years. He was a former member and presently an
honorary member of the Alderson Volunteer Fire Department, was a
former member of the Greenbrier County Planning Commission, and a
former member and past president of the Greenbrier County Board of
Education. Mr. Housby enjoyed metal detecting and working on "Uncle
Tom's Log Cabin" on the Greenbrier River.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Joyce Ann Weeks Housby; a
son, Joseph Grayson Housby of Alderson; two daughters, Lisa Ann
McGuire of Alderson and Tammy Lynn Carter and her husband, Henry, of
Alderson; a
sister, Sara Jane Housby McClung of Alderson; five grandchildren,
Sgt. Jonathon "Craig" Housby, serving in the U.S. Army, stationed at
Fort Drum, N.Y., soon to be deployed to Afghanistan, Pvt. Ryan
Nicholas McGuire,
serving in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Drum, soon to be
deployed to Iraq, Thomas Joseph Bennett of Morgantown, Kara
Elizabeth Bennett of Hinton and Drew Alexander McGuire of Alderson;
a nephew, Neil McClung and his wife, Nikki, of Fort Spring; and he
was also grandpa Tom to Kyle and Destiny Ballard of Alderson, and
Kate McClung of Fort Spring; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Alderson Community Center (former
Alderson High School gym) with the Rev. Sam Groves officiating.
Burial will follow in Fletcher Addition of Alderson Cemetery.
Friends may call for a celebration of Tom's life from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday at the Alderson Community Center and one hour before service
Saturday at the community center.
Pallbearers will be Greg Eary, Lee Skaggs, Arnold Knapp, David
Highlander, Dale Kidd, Bob Holliday, Jeff Highlander and John Eary.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Alderson Lions Club and
members of the Alderson Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.
In lieu of flowers, contributions of sympathy may be made to the
Housby family, c/o Linda Loudermilk, Route 2, Box 9, Alderson, WV
24910 or c/o Rev. Sam Groves, P.O. Box 560, Alderson, WV 24910.
