Charles "Chuck" Houk

Charles “Chuck” Houk quietly slipped into Heaven on November 7, 2014 exactly as he had asked his Lord to be allowed to do— simply, quickly, and with his family surrounding him. A proud native Oklahoman he was born on July 31, 1933 to Ray and Mary Houk. He had two sisters, Jean and Pam, and a brother Tom. Chuck married Johanna Ladd in 1957 after serving on the Intrepid in the United Sates Navy. Their four children, Martin, Brad, Erin and Jeff added four more children (the ones they married): Lou Ann, Gina, Jim and Sandy— in his eyes equal with his original four. After this brood was raised, he and Johanna adopted another son, Clifford Evans, who brought an entirely new light into Chuck’s life with his special needs. Cliff brought love and laughter with him and introduced him to a community of special people who also have disabilities, and a group of skilled, loving, awesome people who serve the needs of the disabled. Achievements were not important to him and will be briefly acknowledged. In his early work years, Chuck worked in the auto battery industry, rising from laboratory director, to superintendent, then manager of the Prestolite (Eltra) battery plant in Visalia, corporate director for quality assurance and, lastly in R&D, his true calling. Taking early retirement, he spent many years doing just what gave him delight. He was part of the bakery crew of Copley Bakery on the Oval, boat mechanic for Etco Marine, and worked with his good friend, Steve Douglass doing asbestos abatement. His diverse pursuits led him to interesting places and remarkable challenges. His was a mechanical mind, always working to invent ways to fix or improve things. If broken, he could fix it. His fix-its were sometimes hilarious to family and friends but what the heck, they worked. His was a very creative mind. For example, while walking with his mother-in-law along the railroad tracks one day, they began to pick up discarded train and track pieces. On returning home he quickly emerged from his shop with a gandy dancer made entirely of train hardware. The rustic gandy dancer joined the family history of railroaders, art, and the history of our country together. What a treasure it is! His life priorities were simple. His faith was a quiet one but ran very, very deep. He lived by it, and it was evident. His next priority was his family and he was immersed in all generations. His life was centered on them and his greatest joy and fun were when they all gathered. In his later years he would sit in his chair and “pontificate” with stories, only a small part of which were true— faithful to the “10% truth” rule in any good story. For in truth, he had the imagination and natural theatrics of a master storyteller. His friends were equally as important as his family. The outstanding event of the last eight years was an annual reunion with what his wife calls “the old guys.” They are a group of five, all but one of whom began their relationship in the third grade in the neighborhood where they lived, when neighborhoods were just that, a group of intertwined households. Chuck said they were a “gang” absolutely, but not in the manner of today’s use of that word. They went to school together, were in the Boy Scouts together, went to high school together, college, and entered the Armed Forces at the same time. Truly, they are a band of brothers— chosen brothers. These gentlemen are tall tale tellers, which got taller, and bigger and better as the years go by. It goes without saying, he will be missed— greatly missed. We already miss his rich, deep voice, his infectious laugh, his outrageous stories, his friendship, and most of all, his ability to love all of us. A true outdoorsman, he loved all aspects of His beautiful aweing world: the animals, the forests, the oceans, the quietness. It made him introspective, appreciative, and worshipful. Now he is a part of that greater world of God’s creation into which he quietly slipped, where the awe and worship go on.

Charles "Chuck" Houk

July 31, 1933 - November 7, 2014