Virginia Helen Pandella-Alston "Punkin"

Virginia Helen Pandella Alston, affectionately known as “Punkin,” was born on Christmas Eve, 1939. A godly woman and devout Episcopalian, Punkin joined her beloved husband, Norman Wayne Alston, in Heaven on November 3, 2025.

She was the cherished daughter of Mary Virginia Bishop and Edward John Pandella, and sister of Richard Kirk Pandella, all of whom joyfully awaited her arrival.

Punkin was a proud Red Hussar for three years and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1957. After meeting the love of her life at McNeese State University, she and Norman married in June of 1958. Together, they spent the next eleven years traveling with the Army creating a lifetime of memories and friendships.

After returning to the States, Norman and Punkin made Port Arthur their home, where they opened Alston’s Nursery and Garden Center. There, countless poinsettias were delivered, rose bushes were pruned, and lifelong memories were made.

They were blessed with two children: Elizabeth Alston Higginbotham (Doug) of Laurel, Mississippi; and Michael Kirk Alston (Lynnette) of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Punkin’s greatest joy was her family. She was the proud grandmother of Phillip (Jennifer) Higginbotham, Gregory Higginbotham, Emily Higginbotham (Eddie) Wu, Anna Alston (Graham) Taylor, John Alston, and Mary Abby Alston. She was further blessed with seven precious great-grandchildren: Audrey and Stella Higginbotham, Pheobe Lewis, Evelyn Pandella “Evie,” Ezra, Everest, and Eden Wu—with an eighth great-grandchild expected this coming February.

Punkin was also preceded in death by her beloved granddaughter-in-law, Ashley Higginbotham.

A Memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Port Neches, Texas on Friday, November 7, at 2:30 o’clock. Interment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Groves, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at cure.childrenscancer.org or Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org)