Thomas Houghton

1931 - 2017

Mr. Thomas Houghton

AGE: 85 • Manahawkin

Thomas Houghton, age 85, of Manahawkin died peacefully at home on May 1, 2017. Son of the late Albert and Mary Houghton, he was born July 16, 1931 in Mount Kisco, NY.

After moving to Harvey Cedars in 1939, he attended the one-room schoolhouse in Barnegat City for grades 4-5, and graduated from Barnegat High School in 1948. He graduated from Columbia University in 1952, and later served as an officer in the US Navy amphibs from 1952-1957.

Tom began his career with Connecticut General in Bloomfield, CT before returning to Harvey Cedars in 1961. He and his family operated Houghton's Rowboats and Clam Bar on 83rd Street for 25 years. He also taught school in Lacey Township for 27 years until retiring in 1987. Toms was active in the Beach Haven Exchange Club, the Harvey Cedars Zoning Board, and as a Little League Baseball Coach for the Shaffer team on the north end of the island.

Tom and his wife Joy are members of the Grace Calvary Church in Ship Bottom, and New Covenant Church, Pompano Beach, FL. They enjoyed travel ( most of Canada and many European countries), and spent winters in their condo in Deerfield Beach, FL for more than 20 years. Tom was an avid walker and loved swimming in the ocean.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joy Pflueger Houghton; his son Richard and his wife Elizabeth of Ocean City, NJ, his son Timothy and his wife Michele of Springboro, OH, his daughter Holly Gallagher and her husband Tim of Manahawkin, and his son Eric and his wife Carol of Titusville, NJ; thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

At Tom's request, cremation was private. A service celebrating his life will be held on Sunday, May 28 at 4pm at Grace Calvary Church, 19th and Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom, with refreshments to follow. For those who would prefer memorial contributions instead of flowers, the family asks you to consider Meridian Hospice South or Grace Calvary Chapel, Ship Bottom.