DORIS PAXTON WIDMYER
1926-2021
Her adventuring continues...
Doris Paxton Widmyer was born on February 22, 1926 in Ohio to Ralph D. & Doris E. Paxton, and went to be with our Lord on February 3, 2021, a few weeks before her 95th birthday. In Heaven, Doris has joined her husband of over 62 years, Richard “Dick” H. Widmyer, her son, Richard “Rick” A. Widmyer, her daughter, Susan Widmyer, and her beloved brother, Bill Paxton. She is survived by her daughters, Elaine Welch and her husband, Rob, and Kristi Barron and her husband, Rusty; 6 grandchildren, Robert, Randy, Patrick, Brandon, Austin and Bailey; and 5 great-grandchildren, Nikki, Maggie, Tyler, Haley and Page. Doris grew up in Ohio spending time in both Canton and Zanesville, attended Ohio State University, where she met Dick, and shortly thereafter they got married and began a family. They started a long career with Texaco and moved to New Iberia, Louisiana before coming to Houston, back in the 1950s, where she remained a proud Texan for the rest of her life.
Some people are defined by where they are from, but Doris was defined by where she was going. She loved traveling, and together with Dick, they traveled the world, visiting every continent at least once and sailed on 48 cruises. Doris and Dick also enjoyed traveling by RV to see all the National Parks and exploring North American cities, while stopping to visit friends along the way. When asked about her favorite travel destinations, she would often say they all started with “A”: Alaska, Australia, Africa, Antarctica.
Some would say, from a young age, Doris had a need for speed and became quite the car enthusiast while attending auto races and even driving on many tracks, including Daytona. Her ideal weekend would have been spending it infield at Texas Motor Speedway, sitting atop her RV watching AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti race around the track. Even when she wasn’t traveling, Doris loved to always be on the go. She was a regular attendee at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Greek Festival, The Alley Theatre, New Orleans Mardi Gras, and any other type of event where she could take in the local culture. Doris was known for her many themed outfits, often made up from items purchased around the world, that she would wear on every holiday, or to any event where you could imagine a panel of judges looking for the best dressed. She very much enjoyed playing bridge and spending time with friends, but even more so, she treasured the time with her family. Doris loved the fact that her first grandson shared her birthday, that her kids enjoyed going camping together at Texas State Parks, and to stay youthful, she would purchase Astroworld season passes with her grandchildren. Doris was remarkable for never losing her sense of adventure later in life, even while she endured macular degeneration for her last 25 years; she just refused to let that define her or even slow her down.
Doris prided herself on being a creative chef, always trying something different, but coming back to the family favorites of Chicken Paprika and Garlic Shrimp Salad. Her holiday cooking was usually topped off with her homemade sugar cookies, from a recipe of her friends at the Houston Junior League. Doris was frugal and thrifty, before recycled things were in vogue, actually holding on to items long enough to see things come into style for a second time around. For her family and friends that knew Doris, we will always remember her fun spirit, standing around the player piano singing songs with neighbors and friends. We will remember how Doris always made an impression with her outfit and coordinating lipstick and earrings. We will remember her admirable ability to always be positive and to think of others first.
Family will receive friends beginning at 12:30 in the afternoon on February 11, 2021 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Services will begin in the chapel at 2:00 o’clock and following in the adjoining mausoleum