Obituary of Thomas Patton Alexander

Thomas Patton Alexander, Sr., 83, of Pearland, Texas passed away on September 26, 2010. He was born on December 29, 1926 in Galveston, Texas, the 6th child of ten children of Charles Hansborough and Helen Drysdale Alexander of Pearland, Texas. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, friend and community leader who enjoyed life fully. Tom loved spending time with his family and friends. Tom was an avid baseball fan of the Houston Astros and supporter of the Pearland Little League. Although he was a man not known for his patience and always in a hurry to get a solution to a problem, he was a steadfast and loyal friend to many in the community and a supporter of numerous good works. He was a big picture thinker with a forward vision of Pearland’s future and worked hard to help create that future. He and his wife Bettye have worked together to build a better Pearland. Tom attended Alvin schools, the Shriner Institute, Texas A & M University and Baylor University. He served in the Merchant Marines in 1944-46 before marrying the love of his life, Bettye Garrett Mathis and moving back to Pearland in 1949. He had many career interests, including real estate investing and developing, oil and rice farming. He formed a long term real estate partnership with David Smith, Sam Vester and others to work on projects to improve Pearland’s economic development and image including Golfcrest Country Club, Nottingham, Alexander Landing and other properties. He was a community leader who signed the City of Pearland charter in the 1950’s and served as an original member of the Pearland City Council from 1957 to 1965. He was an initiator and original member from 1945 of the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department. He served as president of Golfcrest Country Club in 1981. In 1974, he was president of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Pearland Methodist Church. He was a founding supporter (Silver Triangle Club, Founding Fellow) of the Pearland Y.M.C.A. He served on the Board of Pearland State Bank from 1970 to 2010. Tom is survived by his children including Harriett Alexander Holmes and husband, Allen, Cynthia Elizabeth Alexander, Diana Alexander Holzhauser and husband, Dennis, and Thomas (Tom) Patton Alexander, Jr., and wife Rosslyn. He also is survived by grandchildren, Marylyn Reed, Alex Holmes, Amy Williams, Jason Alexander, Sloan Speck, Kevin Alexander, and Harrison Speck. He also had great-grandchildren Luke Holmes, Henry Holmes, Samuel Williams, Nicholas Hubbard, Chase Alexander, Kiley Alexander, and Luke Alexander. Tom is survived by one brother, Jud Alexander and four sisters, Mary Alexander Bartlett, Sue Alexander Morrison, Patricia Alexander Wood, and Elizabeth Alexander Nisbet. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Charles (Jack) Alexander, John Alexander, and Robert Alexander and his sister, Martha Alexander Crouch. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Clayton Funeral Home, 5330 West Broadway, Pearland, Texas (281) 485-4446. The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 30, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, 2314 Grand Blvd., Pearland, Texas (281) 485-8721. In lieu of flowers, the Alexander family requests that donations be made to The First United Methodist Church of Pearland or the Texas Lion’s Club Camp through the Pearland Lion’s Club, P.O. Box 903, Pearland, Texas 77588 or Adult Reading Center, Inc., 2246 N. Washington Avenue, Pearland, TX 77581-4040. Serving as Pallbearers will be Alex Holmes, Sloan Speck, Harrison Speck, Jason Alexander, Kevin Alexander, Marc Black, Brad Williams, Steve Reed and Nicholas Hubbard. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be Jud Alexander, Dr. David Armbruster, Reverend Barclay Barnett, Bill Brower, Lloyd Ferguson, Ray Ferguson, Randy Ferguson, David Griffen, Michael D. Martin, David Smith, Mike O’Day, Bud Theriot, Ken Phillips, Paul Grohman, Russell Kibbee, Larry Speck, Glenn Cheney, Jack McGuff, Jack Idoux, Staff at Pearland State Bank, Coffee Club at Kelley’s Café, and Card Players at Golfcrest Country Club. Ministers at the service will be Dr. Bob Joiner and Dr. John Wood.