Roaul "Sam" Houston, 1947-2021

Roaul D. "Sam" Houston, 73, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 at Winter Haven Hospital.

He was born July 20, 1947 in Lake Wales to the late Florizel and Latrelle Houston and was a lifelong Polk and Hillsborough County resident. Sam was a retired Supply Supervisor for GTE telephone company and attended the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. He served in the United States Navy on the USS Bigelow. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, was a Tampa Bay fan and Florida State University fan that bled garnet and gold.

Sam is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janice W. Houston; sons, Brent Houston of Lake Wales, and Brad Houston of Lake Wales; sisters, Gina Leddon of Lake Wales, and Dena Elmore of Lake Wales; grandson, Colton Houston; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will have a private memorial service but request for their friends to attend virtually at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 15 on the Marion Nelson Funeral Home Website (www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Lake Wales Acts 1:8 fund. (If the donation is made online: Go to First Baptist Church Lake Wales (FBCLW.COM) / Click on GIVE /under FUND use the drop-down arrow and click on ACTS 1:8 with other information requested or make a check payable to the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, put ACTS 1:8 in the memo line, and mail to 388 E Central Avenue, Lake Wales, Florida 33853).