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University of Washington

Rex Houghtaling Obituary

Rex Houghtaling August 11, 1922 - June 3, 2009 SUBLIMITY - Rex Houghtaling lost his long struggle with COPD the evening of June 3, 2009 with his family at his side. Rex was born in Warren County, Iowa, near Indianola, to William Walter Houghtaling and Nora Mae Sarchett Houghtaling on August 11, 1922. He was the eighth of nine children. His mother died when he was six years old, and his father died when he was twelve, leaving him in the care of various relatives until high school graduation in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He met and fell in love with fellow Iowan, Bernice Bray, in Los Angeles where both were working. Following their marriage on June 27, 1943 in Mason City, Iowa, they moved to Washington, first settling in Kingston and later in Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Bellevue. Rex had three careers. When his children, Wayne and Norma Jo, were young, he was a bus driver in the greater Seattle area. He retired with the rank of lieutenant as a police officer at the University of Washington. He was proud to recall escorting President John F. Kennedy when he visited the University of Washington campus. In later years he was a realtor. Rex was a Boy Scout leader for many years. He traveled by bus to the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1960 to Colorado Springs, Colorado with his son, Wayne, and fifty other Boy Scouts. At age 79 he wrote and published his autobiography, Farm Boy. In 2003, he moved to Sublimity to be close to his son and to make friends with everyone in Marian Estates, volunteering his time to anyone in need. His passions were his family, numerous close friends, classical music, the Washington Huskies, jokes and looong stories, fresh produce, very dry martinis, and, the love of his life, Bernice. Preceding him in death was his beloved wife, Bernice, in 1993; daughter, Norma Jo, in 1990; parents; and seven older brothers and sisters. Left to honor his memory and remember him with love are his son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Jeanette Houghtaling of Stayton; grandson, Jeff Houghtaling of Portland; sister, Isabell Thuem of Dallas, Texas; granddaughter, Erika Kostelecky of Seattle, Wash.; step-grandchildren, Meryl Smith-Bromley of Sublimity and Evan Smith of Stayton; great-grandson, Devin Kosteleckyof Seattle, Wash.; step-great-grandchildren, Grace and Owen Bromley; and numerous nieces and nephews. At Rex's request there will be no service.

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Published by The Statesman Journal on Jun. 10, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Rex Houghtaling

Sponsored by Woodmansee Family.

19 Entries

Jenni Knudson

June 9, 2021

Uncle Rex tonight I was reading all of our old emails. Man we were funny haha. I hope you and my dad, Rudy, are having lots of parties up there. Casey is 13 and growing like a weed. We love you, miss you, and think of you often.

Sherry Tuinstra-Rosales

December 29, 2020

I just found this memorial for my Great Uncle Rex, and I am hoping to connect with some of my extended family. My grandmother was Mary Houghtaling Tuinstra, and my father was Kenneth E. Tuinstra. I recently found some papers that Rex sent my sister when he was researching his book. I would love to have a copy of the book! But, I see it is a limited publication. Please get in touch with me in Seattle if you have info on how I can read Uncle Rex’s life story. Thank you.

Jenni Knudson

June 5, 2011

Uncle Rex we miss you so much! I think of you often. We recently bought a trailer and spent the last week camping at a local park. Casey loved every minute of it!! Miss you and love you.
Jenni

John Woodmansee

June 3, 2011

Hi Uncle Rex,
It seems impossible that you have been gone 2 years already. We think of you often and enjoy reading your book.

June 2, 2011

Tomorrow it will be two years since dad past away. Jeanette and I miss him dearly. Thanks to everyone who has expressed their thoughts on this forum, and also for the cards and emails.
Wayne

Jenni Knudson

May 31, 2010

It has almost been a year since we lost you. I still think about you all the time. Casey is definetly 2! Hahaha man is he a handful. Still loving the hockey and can't wait for him to start playing.

Jenni Knudson

October 7, 2009

Hi Uncle Rex I was just thinking of you. You would be amazed at how big casey is getting and how much trouble he can get into. Hockey season just started and he is still a fan. We miss you and love you.

Gary Ausman

August 5, 2009

Hello Wayne:

I just heard from the UW Retirement Association that your dad passed away in June and I extend my sincere condolences (along with my buddy and another of your dad's many friends, John Bickford). John and I attended the Bickford Family Reunion last year about this time in Lebanon, Oregon, and on our way home we made a side trip to visit your dad in Sublimity. We had dinner at the golf club and spent far longer chatting then any of us anticipated and didn't get home to Seattle until well after midnight. What a great visit and we all enjoyed chatting about the interesting times we spent together while we worked at the University of Washington. John was the manager of the Husky Union Building (where most of the campus activism took place) and I was then an Assistant Dean of Men so got in on all the disciplinary "stuff" and it was within this context that the three of us because pretty good friends beginning in the late 1960's. John and I appreciated Rex's professionalism and great common-sense approach to police matters and we considered him the UWPD's poster boy as the one we could always count upon to do the right thing at the right time; and he never disappointed us! At our little gathering last year in Sublimity, we all shared some moments that contributed to our "bonding" and Rex revealed a number of off-the-record incidents that made us all laugh! Such interesting times (late '60's through the 70's) and we all had our share of good stories. We made a pact that we would get together this summer when we would be attending the Bickford Reunion down in Oregon (but John got stuck hosting the Reunion this year up here) so that didn't come to pass.

Just wanted to contact you and add another verse to probably many great stories about your dad and how much he was appreciated at the University of Washington and that he will be missed with his passing. I am finding that now since I, too, am retired from the UW that on reflection my best thoughts about the past involve the interesting people I have met along the way and your dad is one of those great characters who have made my life so rich to date. When Rex retired from the UW, I lost track of him until I was elected President of the UW Retirement Association and then we reconnected again. Rex came over the the Regional Retirement Association gathering in Seaside, Oregon, when I was president in 2004 and we spent a whole lot of fun time together at that conference. I still laugh about a moment we shared just before the final banquet when he pulled me aside and asked if he could ask me a very personal question. To place this in context, that was presidential election time and you might have heard from your dad that the UW is a very liberal institution (can't top the U of Oregon, but liberal none-the-less). Most of those in attendance at the conference were retired faculty and to put it rather bluntly, most were left of liberal. So your dad asked me what I thought of John Kerry. Not knowing your dad's political persuasion, I studied him rather carefully and then replied that I had my ticket to Canada if he won and was about packed and ready to go! Your dad laughed and laughed and then he said to me that WE were probably the only two in the whole room (probably a hundred in attendance) who were not voting for Kerry! On reflection, he was probably right so I appreciated his observations and questions to me because I MC'ed the banquet that evening and was, thusly, very mindful not to make any off-handed political remarks. I survived! John Bickford has many such interesting moments with your dad as well and wanted me to let you know that he feels the same about your dad in every respect and they, too, shared some very interesting times together during the "Revolution" at the UW.

Yes, your dad was a wonderful person who has left a deep footprint wherever he seems to have gone AND he made a very positive contribution to John's and my life. We will miss him.

Gary J. Ausman

Kathie (Forshee) Vanden Ekart

June 22, 2009

I was so sorry to hear of Uncle Rex's passing but happy in the knowledge he is with Aunt Bernie and Norma Jo and having a laugh with my Dad. I will always have wonderful memories of his gentleness and the twinkle in his eye. He was always happy to see his great nieces and nephews. Blessings to you and your family Wayne.

Tammy Woodmansee

June 18, 2009

Words cannot express how sad I am to no longer have my Uncle Rex in my life. He was a wonderful man whose company I greatly enjoyed. I miss him!

Peggy Woodmansee

June 14, 2009

Peggy L. Woodmansee, Niece
Rex was my favorite Uncle! Berniece my favorite Aunt. Rex came into my life when I was 11 years old and he was 22 and newly married to my Aunt. I have always loved him. I remember when he and Aunt Bernie stayed with us for awhile when they mved to Kingston, Wa...he was just an overgrown kid (still was up until his death). He and Aunt Bernie rented a cabin on the beach..we lived in a resort on Apple Tree Point..my family lived in the main farmhouse and Bernice & Rex lived in one of the cabins and my Aunt Delly and her 4 kids lived in another...we had so much fun..Richard was away serving in the Navy...Rex played on the beach with us, helped us find pretty shells and often threw us in the water...Rex was a wonderful man, husband and father (Uncle too)..My mom used to tell me to marry someone like Rex when I grew up. I toldl her when I grew up I was going to take him away from Aunt Bernie..that brought a big laugh. I did marry someone just like him tho. Wayne & Norma Jo were a part of my wedding party in 1951. I used to babysit both, but Wayne was special to me. When he was about 6 months old I would go from Kingston to Edmonds where Bernice and Rex lived to babysit and one time we put Wayne on the bed and Aunt Bernie and I stood by the bed and held out our arms to him...he would always come to me instead of her. He was a beautiful baby. Jack and I used to keep him a lot when we were first married and he hadn't started school. Years have passed by and the closeness no longer exists, but the memories can never be taken away from us. Jack and I and our daughter Tammy went to see Uncle Rex about a month before he died. I treasure that visit..he was still good enough to visit with us, laugh and tell his usual stories (that we had heard many times...He was so special to me and I will keep him in my heart always and miss him so much He is in a better place and home with Aunt Bernie & Norma Jo.

Peggy Woodmansee

June 14, 2009

Peggy L. Woodmansee, Niece

Ken Tuinstra

June 12, 2009

Although we didn't see too much of Uncle Rex, we were able to occasionally visit after we moved to Spokane in 1988. We loved him and always enjoyed visiting with him. We will miss him. Our best to Wayne and Jeanette and other surviving loved ones.
Ken and Linda Tuinstra

Jennifer Knudson

June 11, 2009

We all miss you terribly Uncle Rex but like mom said you are now with the love of your life. I can't even begin to tell you all about the memories I have of Uncle Rex. He was a very special man in my life. I only wish that Casey (my son) could have gotten to know him more. I miss you very much and know that you are here in spirit. I will tell Casey all about my wonderful Uncle Rex.

Karen Rodriguez

June 11, 2009

Uncle Rex was so very special to my family. Jennifer, Casey and I got to see him a few days before he passed away. We will miss him terribly, but know he is now with the love of his life. We have so many special memories that will stay with us forever.

Carol McKee

June 11, 2009

Uncle Rex was such a kind, caring, thoughtful person. He left such a wonderful legacy with his Farm Boy book. I will really miss him.

JOAN WINKLER

June 10, 2009

He will be greatly missed by all. And if anyone had the chance to see his "begonia" they would remember him with the great sense of humor and love he had. Rest in peace UNCLE REX. YOU WERE AND ARE THE GREATEST

LOVE JOAN WINKLER MT. PLEASANT IA

Kim Dorothy

June 10, 2009

I hadn't seen Uncle Rex since he moved from Seattle to Sublimity. I too had one of those Very Dry Martini's with him. While thinking I was going to die drinking this, when I was done I looked at him and asked how could anyone drink these? He just laughed that laugh with his snort and made me a Margarita. I think he just wanted to see if his nieces and nephews would acquire his taste of that awful drink. He was such a wonderful person and I have such great memories of him. He will be missed by all of us. Love you Uncle Rex!

John Woodmansee

June 10, 2009

Lauren and I had many wonderful visits with Uncle Rex. We visited him in Sublimity
in April for the last time, not realizing it would be our last. He made me one of those Very Dry Martini's that he was so fond of. It nearly made me gag! He then switched me to a Margarita..., We'll miss him and have fond memories of our times together.

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