John Russell Houk
John Russell Houk, 94, of Summit Township and Ludington died peacefully at home, with his family surrounding him, on Thursday evening, February 16, 2017.
Russell was born October 10, 1922, to his parents John J. and Lillian M. (Smith) Houk of Summit Township. He attended French School through the 9th grade and graduated from Ludington High School in 1940. After completing two years of college at Central Michigan University, he studied for six months with the U.S. Army at the University of Michigan. He married Florence Mary Gwinn at her parents’ home at the Ludington State Park on September 26, 1943, and then served as a meteorologist in the Army Air Corps from 1943-46 in Salina, KS, Sedalia Air Force Base in Missouri, and the Will Rogers Air Field in Oklahoma City, OK.
After Russ’s military service ended, he and Florence Mary returned to Michigan and moved into a house on Hawley Rd. in Summit Township that was built by his uncle A. J. Allen Houk in 1906. This house, and the farms surrounding it, were his precious home, where he and Florence Mary raised their family and resided together for 68 years prior to their move to the Manor House in Ludington in 2015.
Russell and his brother, C. Franklin Houk, became the fourth generation of Houk sons to farm land south of Ludington, raising fruit and making maple syrup together for almost 30 years. Russ also farmed on his own in later years, retiring in 1985. He was an avid athlete, playing basketball, softball and golf throughout his life and raising a family whose members still enjoy watching sports events together. For his roles in many championship teams, he was inducted in 2009 into the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame.
Russ continued his family’s tradition of community leadership, serving as Summit Township clerk, President of the Ludington Fruit Exchange, and member of the Summit School Board, the board of the Ludington Federal Savings & Loan, and the Michigan State Cherry Commission. In retirement, he and Florence Mary served for many years as volunteers for Hospice of Mason County and the Southwestern VA Hospital in Tucson, where they spent their winters. In Tucson, Russ enjoyed being a Spring Training Volunteer at the Tucson Electric Park, and he participated in the Senior Olympics program in basketball and slo-pitch softball. He was an active member of the Grace EUB/United Methodist Church in Summit Township for many decades. For the last twenty years, he and Florence Mary have been part of the congregation of People’s Church (Unitarian-Universalist) of Ludington.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lillian Houk, and his brother, Franklin Houk. He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Florence Mary Houk, his daughters Linda Cronenwett (Shirley Tuller) and Patricia (John, Jr.) Carney of Ludington, his son Russell R. (Susana) Houk of Bonita Springs, FL, and his daughter Peggy (Neal) Payne of Ludington and Arlington, VA. He is a grandfather truly beloved by his grandchildren -- Sara Cronenwett of Stamford, CT, Molly Cronenwett of Hillsborough, NC, Margaret Carney of Hudsonville, MI, Joel (Amy) Carney of Port Tobacco, MD, Kathyrn (Noah) Wouk of Carrboro, NC, David (Frances) Houk of Weaverville, NC, Kelsey (Zach) Gallion of Arlington, VA, and J. Ryan Payne of New York City, NY, and the eight great-grandchildren they have given him.
Russell loved the land and people of Summit Township, Mason County, and Ludington. He cherished the camaraderie and lifelong friendships he developed through his enjoyment of sports and being on the water and in the woods, fishing and hunting. At the same time, he possessed a curiosity and openness that led him to establish warm and welcoming relationships with people that he encountered from all walks of life through his own travels and through the life experiences of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their friends. Everyone was welcome. Dining room table discussions were spirited, respectful and fun. All the people whose lives he touched are grieving his loss but carry his spirit forward within them. For that, he would take comfort.
Per Russell’s wishes, cremation has already taken place. A brief memorial service will be held at 4:00pm on Saturday, February 25th at People’s Church, 115 W. Loomis St., Ludington, with family visitation to follow from 4:30-6PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Russ’s honor to the LHS Century Club (with earmark to the new scoreboard for Hawley Gym) (c/o Ludington High School Athletic Office, 508 N. Washington Ave., Ludington), to Hospice of Michigan (2366 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103) or to People’s Church (115 W. Loomis St., Ludington).
The family has entrusted Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Ludington with arrangements. Please feel free to share a photo or memory with Russell’s family at www.oakgrovefh.com.
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