Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Houser, Richard H. December 14, 2010
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  Sharon S. M. shabodeho@aol.com December 19, 2010, 12:14 am
  
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on December 15, 2010 
  Richard H. Houser 
  
  JONESTOWN Brigadier General Richard H. Houser, Ret., 85, died on Tuesday, 
  December 14, 2010, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was the 
  husband of Betty I. (nee Fox) Houser, and on June 28, 2010. they celebrated 
  their 64th wedding anniversary. Born August 28, 1925, in Reading, he was the 
  son of the late Harvey F. Houser and Violet M. Roshorn Houser Christeson. He 
  graduated from Lebanon High School in 1943 where he earned varsity letters in 
  wrestling and track. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four 
  daughters, Cheryl A. Houser of Cornwall, Beverly J., wife of Patrick Brewer of 
  Lebanon, Debra J., wife of Gregory Bishop of Myerstown, and Lesley K. Fortna, 
  companion of Richard Briar, Jr. of Jonestown; a sister, Janice Brennan of King 
  of Prussia; a brother, William R. Houser of Bakersfield, Calif.; 10 
  grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his 
  son, R. Scott Houser. He served in the military for over 42 years, enlisting in 
  the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He attended the Naval Air Technical 
  Training Center, Norman, Okla., and became an aviation metal smith, a crew 
  chief of an SBD2C Dauntless dive bomber, a refrigerator repairman at Gillespie 
  Field, El Cajon, Calif., Marine Corps Para-Marine Base, and Chief Clerk of Hq, 
  Marine Air West Coast, El Toro MCAS at Tustin, Calif. He remained in the USMC 
  Reserve until February 1950 when he enlisted in the PA Army National Guard. He 
  was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1951 and remained in the National Guard until 
  June 1973 when he entered on active duty with the U.S. Army. He was nominated 
  by Gov. Milton Shapp to become the United States Property & Fiscal Officer for 
  Pennsylvania and appointed to the position by Lt. Gen. LaVerne Weber, Chief, 
  National Guard Bureau. He served on the Special Staff of the State Adjutant 
  General for 35 years, serving in that position under seven State Adjutants 
  General and eight Governors. He served three tours of special duty in the 
  Pentagon under the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. For his distinguished 
  service at the Pentagon, he was awarded the coveted "Eagle Award" in 
  recognition of high achievement to his country and the Legion of Merit. He 
  received the PA American Legion Distinguished Service Award in 1975 for 
  outstanding service to his community, State and Nation. He graduated from the 
  Army Quartermaster School, Basic & Advanced Officer's School, Army Finance 
  Center, Army Accounting & Auditing Course, Army Contracting Officer School and 
  the Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In January 1982, he 
  was made an honorary member of the prestigious historic Veteran Guard, 3rd 
  Infantry Regiment. Upon retirement from the military in 1985 he was awarded the 
  Legion of Merit for outstanding services and achievements. He was an active 
  participant in his community serving as two-term President, Jonestown 
  Perseverance Fire Company, a two-term Commander, Marlin L. Gahres American 
  Legion Post No. 883, for which he was awarded Life Membership in both 
  organizations, and was twice the State Chairman of the first Junior American 
  Legion State Baseball Tournaments (1969-1970); Chairman, Jonestown Christmas 
  Lights; Chairman & Parade Marshal of the 1961 Jonestown County Fireman's & 
  Bicentennial Parades; Chairman Jonestown Area Medical Center Fundraiser; 
  Chairman, Jonestown Bicentennial Committee; Chairman and founder of the 
  Jonestown Community Park; Director, Lebanon Valley Industrial Development 
  Authority; one of the original founders and first President of Quittie-Woods, 
  Inc.; was inducted into the Central Chapter Sports Hall of Fame, receiving the 
  John B. Sollenberger Award for Meritorious Community Service in Sports; and ran 
  for Lebanon County Commissioner. He was a member of Mt. Lebanon Lodge 226, 
  F&AM, Quittapahilla Tall Cedars of Lebanon Forest No. 25 and Captain & Chief 
  Ranger of the Forest No. 25 Precision Drill Team for 36 years. He belonged to 
  St. John's United Church of Christ, Jonestown, where he taught Sunday School 
  for 12 years, further serving as deacon, elder, and President of the Church 
  Council. In 2007, at the age of 82, he conceived and chaired "The Spirit of 
  Jonestown" six division community parade to raise funds in support of the 
  Jonestown Community Park. In January 2008 the Borough Council and Borough Mayor 
  George Kaufman named him "2007 Volunteer of the Year" for his efforts toward 
  improving the community. For his contributions to the community for over 50 
  years the Jonestown Borough Council proclaimed August 11, 2007, as Brigadier 
  General "Dick Houser Day". He was also given a proclamation by the Lebanon 
  County Commissioners citing his 42 years of military service to his country and 
  his community. In 2010 he was recognized as the Founder of the Jonestown 
  Community Park, established a Veterans Memorial wall in Zions Lutheran 
  Evangelical Cemetery, and was to be the Chairman and Grand Marshal for the 
  250th Jonestown Anniversary Parade to be held June 25, 2011. Funeral services 
  will be held on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the St. John's United Church of 
  Christ, Jonestown. Viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at 
  the Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, Rt. 72 and Camp Meeting Road, 
  Jonestown, and at 9 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Masonic services for 
  Richard H. Houser, will be conducted by Mt. Lebanon Lodge 226, F&AM at 8:30 
  a.m. on Saturday at the St. John's United Church of Christ, Jonestown and not 
  at the funeral home on Friday evening. Interment will be in Mt. Lebanon 
  Cemetery, Lebanon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to 
  the Jonestown Community Park, P.O. Box 446, Jonestown, PA 17038. 
  
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on December 15, 2010 
  
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