Thomas Lawton Houvouras

Thomas Lawton Houvouras, 77, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025 at his home surrounded by his wife and children. Tom was born and raised in Huntington, WV, the second of seven children of Andy and Pat Houvouras. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and St. Joseph Central High School where he played varsity basketball and baseball. After graduating from St. Joe in 1966, Tom went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Dayton. He was then drafted into the US Army where he served for two years and was deployed to Vietnam. Tom returned home and began working at Huntington Plating, Inc., where he was President from 1982-2024. Along with his brother Rick, he was a founding partner of STAR Technologies in Huntington. Tom served on the Board of Directors for St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Huntington YMCA, and as the Company Chair of the Piedmont Grievance Committee. For his business accomplishments, Tom was named Herald-Dispatch Business Innovator of the Year in 2014 with his brothers Rick and Jack.Tom became involved with the St. Joseph Invitational (SJI), and volunteered as the basketball tournament’s Chairman for decades. He was an assistant coach for the St. Joe boys’ varsity and freshman basketball teams. For all his contributions, Tom was inducted into the St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame. Tom was also a longtime supporter of youth sports in Huntington and devoted countless hours to coaching at YMCA Buddy Basketball and Huntington Little League.Tom enjoyed the simple things in life most, spending time on the golf course with his best friend George Smailes, taking trips to the beach with his family, and relaxing by the river with his loving and devoted wife Denise. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren and had a gift of making each of them feel special. Tom was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Patricia Houvouras, sisters Anne Houvouras and Amy Usher. He is survived by his wife Denise, his brothers Drew (Jane) Houvouras, Rick Houvouras, Jack (Tracy) Houvouras, his sister Mary (Jay) Noel, his children Andrea (Jeff) McDowell, Arica (Matt) Simmons, Ashley (Josh) Houvouras and Marc (Christy) Houvouras, step-daughter Jaimee (John) Duna, grandchildren Kamryn, Carson, Wade, Hugh, Reef, Maggie, Lily, Luke, Lexis, Isaiah, Hailey, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.Tom’s family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for a special group of caretakers that allowed him to spend his last years comfortably at home - Tereka Grey, Breanna Deskins and Darren Reedy, RN. Special thanks to George Smailes and Staige Davis for their friendship and for sharing laughter and companionship when it mattered most. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 31 at Reger Funeral Home from 11am - 2pm. Funeral service will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Tom’s honor to the Huntington YMCA.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com