Judith Dean Houghton

Ms. Houghton was born in Rawlins, Wyoming and moved to Texas at the age of 3. She was blessed with, and is survived by, her sister Susan and brothers Bill and Richard.

She studied dance and drama at the University of Texas. Not long after graduating in 1957, Ms. Houghton choreographed shows in Dallas, Austin, Galveston, and Texas City, and began teaching at a new dance school in Dallas. She was affiliated with the Southern Methodist University dance faculty and produced live shows at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, at Six Flags locations in Texas and Georgia, and at Marine World and Seven Seas. She also partnered with Charles R. Meeker, Jr. and others in the operation of “Charlie’s Place” in Fort Worth.

Ms. Houghton worked with show business legends such as Bob Hope, the Smothers Brothers, and Jimmy Durante while serving as Vice-President and General Manager of Miss Teenage America. She not only produced the Miss Teenage America national telecast for many years, but traveled the world producing Miss Universe pageants.

Her credits include countless major productions for communities as well as major corporations such as Dr. Pepper. She took joy in spotlighting young talent - several Broadway and television personalities made their professional debuts in her shows.

Ms. Houghton went on to work as Communications Director for the Alzheimer’s Association in Dallas and as meeting planner for the Texas Payroll Conference, which honored her with the creation of an annual educational scholarship in her name.

She is survived by a large and loving family and a wide circle of friends. A memorial service for Ms. Houghton will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 4:00 pm at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home. Her ashes will be scattered at the grave site of her parents, Mr. Irvin C. and Mrs. Dorothy Houghton, in the Galveston County Memorial Cemetery near Hitchcock, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.