Randie M. Houston

Randie Houston, 86, of Fairfax, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on January 11, 2025, with his family by his side. Fittingly, the date of his passing holds a numerical significance which Randie, with his lifelong love of numbers, would have deeply appreciated: the sum of the digits (1/11/25) equals 10. In Pythagorean philosophy, 10 represents perfection, completeness, and the end of a cycle. This feels particularly profound—an ending with symmetry and precision, just as he might have planned it himself.

Randie was born on November 29, 1938, in Duplin County, North Carolina, to Marvin and Mary Lee Houston. He grew up in rural North Carolina alongside his beloved younger brother, Jerry. During his teenage years, the family relocated to the Outer Banks, where Randie, Jerry, and their father built a cottage court for tourist rentals. These years fostered Randie’s passion for hands-on work and pride in craftsmanship.

From a young age, Randie demonstrated a keen interest in mechanical and electrical engineering, with a natural ability to understand highly complex technical systems. His childhood interests led him to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (now North Carolina State University), becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree.

After graduating, Randie spent time in the Air Force before beginning a career as a technical manager supporting U.S. government programs and projects. Over the years, Randie worked for prominent government contractors such as Computer Sciences Corporation, Magnavox Data Systems, and Planning Research Corporation. During his career in IT, he held key roles, including Chief Engineer, Chief Scientist, and eventually Vice President and General Manager of Technical Operations. Randie was deeply dedicated to applying his technical expertise to his work, took immense pride in the impact of his contributions, and highly valued his workplace relationships. Among his work colleagues, he was respected as a reliable problem-solver, known for resolving challenges that others could not.

At home, Randie’s industrious spirit continued to shine brightly and he approached personal projects with the same dedication to perfection he brought to his career. From intricate work on digital logic design to ambitious home renovation projects—including designing and building a large addition to his home—Randie was known for his ability to repair or build nearly anything.

Randie’s family and friends knew him as an extraordinarily intelligent man with a deep love for problem-solving, physics, mathematics, and computer science. He was equally cherished for his wit and humor by those who knew him. He had a knack for bringing laughter to those around him, often lightening the mood with his playful personality. His love for numbers was evident in both his work and his personal life, where he enjoyed uncovering patterns and logical connections. Randie delighted in memorizing and reciting the digits of pi to impressive lengths, often surprising others with his recall even in later years. His fascination with numbers embodied both his sharp mind and his endless curiosity for how the world works.

Randie’s intelligence and creativity led to remarkable accomplishments. He invented and patented technologies to ensure the safety of commuters traveling by train in the Washington D.C. area and designed and sold a computer modem for the Altair minicomputer that revolutionized digital communications in the late 1970’s prior to the advent of the Internet in use today. Later, he collaborated with his eldest son, Thomas, to invent and patent a computer-controlled exercise machine that replaced traditional weights for force generation—a novel concept for the time. These revolutionary product designs and inventions stand as a testament to his ingenuity and boundless drive to innovate.

While Randie remained busy throughout his life, camping trips with his family were a special occasion that he cherished. These outings allowed him to spend time together with his family away from the stresses of his work life. These trips are memories his family will treasure forever.

Randie was a proud and loving father to three children, Thomas, Chrissy, and Matthew and was married to the love of his life, Sharell, for 41 years. Sharell’s support was the foundation of their life together. She ensured Randie could devote himself to his work and personal projects while she managed their home and nurtured their family. In his later years, Sharell was Randie’s loving caregiver and best friend. She honored his wish to stay at home, providing the care, support, and comfort that made him feel secure and at peace through the end of his life.

Randie is survived by his wife, Sharell, his three children, Thomas (Shannon) Houston, Chrissy (Tony) Argier, and Matthew Houston, and his five incredible grandchildren, Connor, Kelly, Kara, Johnny, and Axel. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Mary Lee Houston, and his brother, Jerry Dean Houston, Sr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society of America in memory of Randie Houston (https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate). We also invite you to share your memories, photos, and messages of remembrance here to celebrate Randie’s remarkable life and the joy he brought to those around him. Randie’s family will always appreciate your support, love, and friendship.