L. E. Touchstone

L.E. “Gene” Touchstone, 89, of Dayton passed to the heavenly rose garden Friday, October 26, 2012. Gene was born in Rosedale, Texas, February 16, 1923, the first son of Lamar. W. and Ruth Comstock Touchstone. He graduated Beaumont High School class of 1940 and was a WWII veteran of the Army Air Corps with service in the US and the Pacific. He farmed rice in Beaumont until November 1959 when he opened Trinity Valley Tractors, the Ford tractor dealership in Dayton. Gene and the rest of the family faithfully served the public and operated the business until its sale in October 2000. Gene was a civic minded person and was instrumental in passing school bonds in the 1970’s. He was one of the driving forces that formed Dayton Community Development Corporation. Many say he was the person most to credit for beginning of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. Most will remember Gene for his knowledge of roses. A knowledge which he shared and the blooms which he freely gave to many in the community. He won many trophies and ribbons in rose exhibitions in Beaumont and Houston over years and was a member of both Beaumont and Houston Rose Societies. Services for Mr. Touchstone will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home with Rev. Jon Stouffer officiating. Interment will follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday evening at the funeral home. Gene is survived by his wife of 70 years: Catherine Read Touchstone of Dayton; his children: Lamar Touchstone and wife Sharon of Dayton; Read Touchstone and wife Connie of Dayton; Patricia Kay Wierzowiecki and husband Johnny of Dayton; grandchildren: Stephen Touchstone, Carol Caron, Amie Touchstone, Adrian Touchstone, Aaron Touchstone, John A. Wierzowiecki and Elizabeth DeLeon; great-grandchildren: Kane, Sebastian, Mattias, and Jillian Caron; brother: Jerry Daniel Touchstone and wife Norma. He never met a stranger. He always had a smile and kind word for everyone. He’s in God’s rose garden and we will miss him. By the way when he’s not in the rose garden he surely will be on the golf course. For those who desire memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 505, Dayton, Texas 77535. To view his online obituary, or post a tribute to her family go to pacestancil.com.