David L. Houser

David Lee Houser of the Lawndale section of Philadelphia, passed away on March 17, 2024 following an aggressive, multi-year battle with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer. He was born on February 20, 1975, to William N. and Joan M. (Young) Houser.
David attended St. William School and attended Mercy Tech Vocational High School and graduated from Delaware Valley High School. In his teens and early 20s, he worked for Pippo's Restaurant and later Peppi's Pizza as a delivery person, using his then prized 1979 Pontiac Firebird.
Eventually securing a job with SEPTA in 1998, as a member of BLET Division 71, David moved up the ranks from a Passenger Attendant, to Conductor and finally to the position of Engineer on the Regional Rail system, a job which he loved and continued to worked at until his health would no longer allow. It was there, while working at SEPTA, that he met his love and partner in life, Faith Poore, a lasting relationship 23 years strong. Never ones to rush, David and Faith finally were married in May of 2021 at a simple but beautiful ceremony in Stoney Creek Park, surrounded by friends and family.
David was the definition of a "jack of all trades." He was a wiz with anything Electrical, he could do light carpentry and plumbing, was an auto mechanic, all in his "spare time." He was also an avid HAM Radio operator, call sign; KB3DVM. He shared a deep interest in Genealogy, spending several years tracing his family's roots back as far as one could possibly go. This research inadvertently led to his time helping the Knights of Pythias' Greenwood Cemetery on Adams Avenue, restore many long neglected sections of the grounds, which included graves of the ancestral roots of his family tree.
Following in his parent's footsteps, railroads big and small were a main hobby from childhood onward. Much like his Dad, he was fan of the Pennsylvania Railroad as well as a fan of the Reading Railroad, like his Mom, and had many scale models that he worked on and eventually operated at the Rockledge Model Railroad Museum, where there too, he had been helping regularly with various projects, trouble shooting electrical issues, redesigning systems and building as they continue to grow. In addition, David was a car enthusiast and had several project cars, having his own dedicated garage to work on and store his collection. He and his wife Faith, regularly took her Pontiac GTO to car shows across the region and even further, gaining many awards over the years. They were an inseparable team. He was also an avid roller-coaster enthusiast, often traveling to amusement parks far and wide with his Mom who also shared the same joy.
David will be remembered for his "larger than life", energetic and sometimes hyper personality, that never followed a trend. He created his own path.
He is survived by his loving wife Faith (Poore), her son Collin Nkabinde, mother Joan, brother Kenny, brother-in-law Brendan, sister-in-law Becky Zellner and husband Charlie, sister-in-law Joanna Melegatti and her husband Osvaldo, his aunt Lori Houser, and cousin Marylee Houser, and great aunt Barbara Vaughan, as well as many 2nd and 3rd cousins.
He was predeceased by his father William N. Houser, uncle Robert T. Houser, grandparents John J. and Florence A. Young, and Robert E. and Dorothy V. Houser.
Services to honor David's life will be held at James M. Campbell Funeral Home, 500 Benner Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111. The viewing will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024, from 6-8pm, and on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 10-11am, followed by a service at 11am. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Rockledge Model Railroad Museum, 323 Montgomery Avenue, Rockledge, PA 19046, to continue David's passion for trains and his dedication to preserving railroad history.
We welcome you to share your thoughts and memories on his Tribute Wall.