Margaret R. Houck

Margaret R. Houck, beloved wife of the late Irvin E. Houck, passed away peacefully on Aug. 31, 2007 at her home in Oak Park, IL. Born in Austin, IL on Sept. 18, 1906, she was the daughter of the late George H. and Margaret, nee Smith, Ratledge. She had lived in Oak Park since her marriage in 1930. Margaret Houck was the devoted mother of Dr. Richard I. Houck and his wife, Janet of Burlington, WI, Margaret "Peggy" Houck Smith and her husband, Eric of N. Kingstown, RI and Mary Houck Olson and her husband, Jon of Oak Park, IL. She was the loving grandmother of Carole Pleis, Susan Sites, James and David Houck, Derek and Deirdre Olson, Caroline, Eric and Andrew Smith, and the great-grandmother of 10. She is survived by Miriam Houck, nieces and nephews, and Tineke Schouten, a longtime special member of the family. She was predeceased by her two sisters, Eleanor Tench and Evelyn Schoeneck; and a brother, Warren Rutledge. Mrs. Houck devoted her time, talent and resources for over seven decades to the Oak Park-River Forest community. Her major areas of focus were health, education, culture and religion. A dedicated volunteer at West Suburban Hospital, in 1962 she joined the auxiliary board. In 1981 she became the first woman ever elected to the hospital board of trustees, and in 1984 was designated a life trustee. Mrs. Houck was instrumental in the creation of the hospital's Pastoral Care Center, including a meditation room, as well as the Irvin and Margaret Houck Family Birthing Center in 1988. Mrs. Houck served on the board of directors of many community organizations including the Community Nursing Service and the Oak Park-River Forest Symphony Orchestra. She was the first woman director of the Oak Park Trust and Savings Bank. She was a past president of the Oak Park-River Forest Infant Welfare Society, the Community Welfare Council, and the Nineteenth Century Women's Club, where she had been a member since 1930. Mrs. Houck was a founder of the Community Nursing Service and the Women Leaders in Philanthropy. She has been an important benefactor of the Oak Park-River Forest Family Service and Mental Health Center, Hephzibah Home, the Oak Park-River Forest Day Nursery, the Community Chest of Oak Park-River Forest, the Oak Park Historical Society, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation, the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, and the First Congregational Church (now the First United Church of Oak Park), Grace Lutheran Church, and Douglas Community Church (near her beloved lake shore home in Fennville, Michigan). She was a charter member of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. In addition to her commitments to the Oak Park community, in Chicago she was a past president of the Junior Board of the Northwestern Settlement House, on the board of the Chicago Infant Welfare, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and a supporter of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, and Ravinia. With her husband, Irvin Houck, who died in 1970, she was a lifelong supporter of Oberlin College. In recent years, Mrs. Houck has been recognized by the Oak Park-River Forest community for her dedication and commitment. In 1992, Family Service and Mental Health Center of Oak Park- River Forest presented Mrs. Houck with the Rita Johnson Humanitarian Award. In 1998, the West Suburban Hospital Medical Center and the Foundation of West Suburban Hospital Medical Center established the Margaret R. Houck Award for Volunteerism and Stewardship. This award, honoring her for her leadership, her extraordinary commitment and service to her community, her vitality and high standard of moral conduct, is awarded annually to a deserving member of the community. In 2002, Dominican University presented her with the Bravo Award for her distinguished contributions to the community and the arts. The following year, 2003, she was the first recipient of a humanitarian award from Concordia University. On two occasions she received awards from the Rotary Club of Oak Park. In 2003 on her 97th birthday, the

Nineteenth Century Club honored Mrs. Houck for her years of service and benevolent spirit, and named the auditorium after her. They paid tribute to her again this past year on her 100th birthday. Irvin and Margaret Houck were longtime members of the Oak Park Country Club and the University Club of Chicago. Mrs. Houck was a member of the Women's Athletic Club in Chicago and the Hillsboro Club in Pompano, Florida. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2007 at Grace Lutheran Church, Bonnie Brae and Division Streets, in River Forest. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Margaret Houck to any of the organizations with which she was involved or to Rainbow Hospice, Inc., 444 N. Northwest Hwy. Suite 145, Park Ridge, IL 60068.