Ronald Eugene Houston

Ronald Eugene Houston, 89, passed away on February 23, 2024 at home in Vancouver, WA, surrounded by his loved ones.

Ronald was born on December 9th, 1934 to Gladys 'Lucille' (Hunt) Houston and Loraine 'Ivan' Houston in Grand Island, Nebraska. At the age of 3 years old, his family moved to El Dorado County in California. There he attended a one room school house. Later at El Dorado High School, Ronald played 3 years varsity football, 2 years varsity track and baseball, graduating in 1953. At seventeen Ronald joined the Army National Guard rifle platoon and qualified as an expert, making PFC his first year and Corporal in less than a year and a half. After time spent in the Marines, he went on to study at Sacramento City College. He was a lifelong student of history, writing, computer science and photography. On February 12th, 1956, Ronald married the love of his life, Patty 'Pat' Claire Larcher in Sacramento, California. Ronald and Pat were blessed with two daughters, Cindy and Susan. Ronald loved the outdoors from a young age and took an active role in passing on his love of the outdoors to his grandchildren, teaching them to fish, hunt, canoe and kayak and enjoy nature. He was an avid hunter and photographer, as well as pen and ink and pencil artist. His favorite subject was wildlife, especially ducks. His family was always at the center of Ronald's life, both as a child and as a parent himself. He taught his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through his actions, words and involvement the importance of family. His legacy lives on in them.

Ronald is survived by his wife of 68 years, Pat (Larcher) Houston; daughters Cindy (Houston) Pope and Susan (Houston, Neil) Jones; grandchildren Tasha (Neil) McDonald, Kevin Eugene Pope, Christopher Neil, Jason Neil and Kelly (Pope) Adamson; great-grandchildren Andrew McDonald, Sarah McDonald, Cambria Adamson, Anderson Pope, Julia Pope, Emilia Adamson and Beatrice Pope.

He was predeceased by his parents, Ivan and Lucille Houston and his sister, Shirley (Houston) Courtney.

A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, Washington on March 5th at 12pm, with a Memorial Service at the LDS Church to follow on May 18th, 2024.