ALTON E. (“ART”) DANIELL was born at Cotton Gin community in Freestone County, Texas October 10, 1924 and joined his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the early morning of Saturday, May 7, 2016 at his home in Houston, Texas.
He grew up with his Parents, Oren Wallace (“O.W.”) Daniell and Freda Nell Campbell Daniell on a ranch and graduated from Teague High School, with Honors, in 1942 at age seventeen (17). He was the Student Body President, elected by acclamation in both his Junior & Senior years, participated in Varsity football, Varsity Boxing and was both the Team Captain and named “All Region” in both sports.
“Art” was drafted into the Army immediately after his eighteenth (18th) birthday and served honorably throughout World War II, beginning with the formation of the 75th Division at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later qualifying and being trained as a pilot.
He attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas on the “GI Bill”, graduating in three (3) years with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry with honors and matriculated to Graduate School at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
He returned to Texas, working as a research chemist for several major companies including Natural Gas Pipeline, United Carbon, Ashland Chemical and the J.M. Huber Corporation. Art was awarded numerous patents in Organic and Carbon Black Chemistry as well as International Testing Procedures & Standards by the ISO.
While in the military he married Mary Frances Calhoun on April 9, 1944 at Love Field in Dallas, Texas where she was attending nursing school. They had two (2) Sons, Craig and Eric, and were happily married for forty-eight (48) years until her death in 1992. Art had first seen “Francie” on the seat of her Grandfather’s wagon in Teague when she was a girl, claiming she was the ”prettiest girl he had ever seen”. They had corresponded over the years and when they both ended up in Dallas, they decided to marry.
Art & Frances
retired to the Panhandle of Texas and enjoyed traveling with the Airstream Club.
Art came to know Jesus, and in his own words: “I experienced the grace of Jesus Christ during the summer of 1940 at a “Brush Arbor” revival meeting. It was at one of those meetings that I realized I needed Christ’s grace and saving love in my heart. I went forward, repented of my sins and accepted Christ into my heart! From that time forward, my life became so much more meaningful with the help of the Holy Spirt! My baptism took place in a pond at the Sinclair Pumping Station just south of Teague, Texas and I became a member of the 7th Avenue Baptist Church. I was 15 ½ years old when this happened.”
He was a visible evangelist for Christ serving as a Deacon in churches wherever he lived, serving as the President of the Sunday School program on several occasions, served as a lay minister, taught bible studies and Sunday School, serving as the teacher of the Forum Bible Class at 2nd Baptist Church in Houston.
Art served as the President of: the Sanford-Fritch I.S.D. Board of Trustees, initiating many educational initiatives; the International Bureau of Testing Standards, traveling extensively throughout the world; and numerous governmental and civic organizations. He particularly enjoyed his role as a technical expert in solving problems in the Carbon Black industry.
After Frances’s passing, Art married Norma Lawrence Holland, one of Frances’ dearest friends whose Husband Albert had passed some years before. They have had a wonderful twenty-three (23) year marriage living in Fritch, Fulton and Houston, traveling in motor home caravans all over North America, with their many friends. They moved to the Forum at Memorial Woods in 2013, to be near both their families and have enjoyed holidays and other family gathering with Norma’s many grand and great-grandchildren.
Art and Norma were great help-mates to each other in times of illness, and were dedicated to each other in their loving marriage until his passing.
Alton as he preferred to be called in recent years is survived by: his Wife, Norma; Sons, Steven Craig and Wife Susan of The Woodlands, Texas and David Eric Daniell and Wife Sandra of Rowlette, Texas; Grandsons Kevin of Blue Rock, Ohio and recently Houston, Texas and Andrew Daniell and his Wife Angie and Alton’s Great Grandsons Anderson and Ashton Daniell of Bath, Ohio; as well as Norma’s extended Family.
He was predeceased by his Parents, Oren Wallace and Freda Nell Daniell, his Brother Oren Ray Daniell and Wife Frances of Mexia, Texas, his Sister, Bonnie Dean Daniell Cairl and her Husband Ty, of Ohio and his Wife of 48 years, Mary Frances Calhoun Daniella.
The Family wishes to thank the staff and medical staff at The Forum at Memorial Woods as well as the staff of Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care in Houston.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to either:
Boys & Girls Ranch, Tascosa
P.O. Box 1890
Amarillo, Texas 79174-0001
www.calfarley.org
or the;
Wounded Warrior Project
4899 Belfort Road
Suite 300
Jacksonville, Fla 32265
thewoundedwarriorproject.org
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