KW-OBIT-HOUK, Hugh - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

VEEDERSBURG -- Funeral services for Hugh Chester Houk, age 36, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack Friday, Nov. 12, while operating a dragline at the gravel pit he operated near his home on Veedersburg Rt. 1, were held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Sterling Christian Church. The Rev. Dennis Slaughter officiated and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Covington. Masonic rites were conducted at the graveside. Mr. Houk had been hauling gravel and had started to load a truck when his co-worker, Bill Byers of Veedersburg, noticed machinery had stopped and, after investigating, found Mr. Houk slumped over the controls. He had had no previous attacks nor had he been ill, according to Robert B. Shelby, Fountain County Coroner. He was born Dec. 8, 1928, in Beech Grove, Ill., the son of William Allen and Hazel Nail Houk. He had lived in Veedersburg since 1937. On June 24, 1951, he married Virginia Smith, who survives. He was an Army veteran, serving during the Korean War from 1952-54. He was a member of the Charles Forrest American Legion Post in Veedersburg. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are: two daughters, Vanessa, age 11, and Mindy Lee, age 8, both at home; his mother, Mrs. Paul Simmons of Veedersburg; one brother Harold of Milpitas, Calif., and one sister Mrs. Richard (Helen) DeSutter of Attica. The Parham Funeral Home of Veedersburg was in charge of arrangements.