A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 10 at 2:30 pm at Farmers Funeral Home in Silsbee for Stella F. Witte, affectionately known as Teddy. She was born in Terre Haute, IN on July 3, 1923 to Edna and Paul Houldson. She joined her mom and her step-dad Joseph Earl Kennedy in Chance, TX (now Lumberton) during World War II. She met and married her husband Albert G. Witte during the war when he served with her brother Bill in the U.S. Navy. Together they raised 2 daughters, Lyn and Janice, and 2 sons, Buddy and Buzzy, in Chance/Lumberton. She had just turned 88 years old 2 days before her death on July 5th. A special ceremony will be conducted during the memorial service by the Silsbee Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
Teddy retired from the Port Arthur News after many years in the newspaper business, both at the Beaumont Enterprise and the Port Arthur News. She then served as a volunteer at St Elizabeth Hospital for a number of years. The greatest joy of her retirement was her time at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO, where she worked for 15 years, not retiring until in her early 80s. Another highlight of her life included a term as Worthy Matron of the Silsbee Order of the Eastern Star, where she had been a member for 50 years. She was a founding member of Woodcrest Methodist Church in Lumberton, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Silsbee.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Edna Houldson Kennedy and Paul Houldson, her stepfather Earl Kennedy, her husband Al Witte, and her brother Bill Houldson. Survivors include her daughters, Lynette Witte Philips and her husband Tommy Philips of Fairmount, TX, and Janice Witte of Silsbee TX. Two sons, A. Paul (Buddy) Witte and Albert George (Buzzy) Witte, Jr., both of Las Vegas, NV. She had ten grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Her nephew Frank Houldson lives in Ardmore, OK.
Special thanks is given to the staff of Rosewood II Assisted Living Center in Jasper, TX. Their dedication to, care of, and love shown to Mom is deeply appreciated. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lakes Area Hospice of Jasper, TX.
