Edward E. Houghton

Edward Earl Houghton (Age 91)On January 2, 2007, family and friends joined together to celebrate the life of Edward Earl Houghton, a long - time resident of Clinton, Maryland. Earl, as he was known by his loved ones, died peacefully at Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland, on December 29, 2006, after suffering with a heart condition for several years. Earl and his family lived in the Washington, D.C. area for almost 70 years.Earl was born in Stafford County, Virginia, on September 3, 1915, and grew up in the Storck area of Stafford County, Virginia, where his grandparents owned the Storck Store and his grandfather served as Postmaster. He graduated from Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Virginia in 1934. He played baseball around the State of Virginia throughout his young life. After the Great Depression, he joined thte Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build roads, bridges and other improvements in Shenandoah National Park near Luray, Virginia. During World War II Earl was assigned to work at the U.S. Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., where he met his wife, Clara. After World War II he worked as a carpenter and continued to work part-time in construction until recent years. For over 25 years Earl worked as a master machinist at the Harry Diamond Research Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Army until his retirement in 1974. He was a dedicated civil servant and a patriotic citizen throughtout his life.Earl was a member of Masonic Centennial Lodge No. 174 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and had served as the Worshipful Master there in 1958. He had received honors and special recognition for his numerous contributions to the lodge during the 55 years that he was a member. Earl was also one of the founders and president of the Singing Pines Hunt Club in Monterey, Virginia. In his young life he had been a member of Hartwood Presbyterian Church in Hartwood, Virginia and later joined Bell's Methodist Church in Camp Springs, Maryland. He was also actively involved in the Falmouth High School Alumni Association and supported their scholarship fund. Edward Earl Houghton was the son of Robert Edward Houghton and Fannie Mae Storck, also of Storch, Virginia. He is survived by his devoted wife, Clara, his loving daughters Joan Houghton and Shirley Parker, his 3 adoring grandchildren and their spouses,his 6 cherished great- grandchildren, his loving cousin, Louise Ford of Hartwood, Virginia, several nephews and nieces, and numerous other relatives and friends. Services were held at Lee's Funeral home in Clinton, Maryland, on Tuesday, January 2, 2007. Following the memorial service, a reception was held at the Masonic Centennial Lodge in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. A private burial ceremony will be held in the spring.Donations may be made to Falmouth High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, 267 Sunset Drive, Ruther Glen, VA 22546, or Centennial Lodge # 174, 6110 Croom Station Road, Upper Malboro, MD 20772, or Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, 9025 Woodyard Road, Clinton, MD 20735 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Edward E. Houghton please visit our Sympathy Store.