Ernest Franklin Houck, 97, of Purchase Line, PA went home to be with his Lord on Monday, December 26, 2022 at the Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, PA.
The son of E. Ward and Hulda Elizabeth (Duck) Houck, he was born on July 5, 1925 in Purchase Line, Green Twp., Indiana Co., PA.
A native of Purchase Line, Ernie’s grandfather, David Houck, founded the village where Ernie was a lifelong resident.
Ernie faithfully served his God, family, and church. He was very involved with the East Mahoning Baptist Church in Purchase Line, PA, where he served as deacon, trustee, janitor and youth fellowship leader over the years.
Ernie attended the Purchase Line Academy Grammar School for eight years and then the Green Twp. High School in Commodore, PA. During Ernie’s sophomore year he quit school to join the U.S. Army. He served in the Army from April 1944 until May 1946 during WW II with a tour of duty in the European Theater and he earned the rank of Corporal.
On November 23, 1946 he married Betty Jane Biss at Rev. Rex Brickell’s House in Hillsdale, PA. They shared over sixty-six years of marriage until her death on June 8, 2013.
In his younger years, Ernie had been employed at the brickyard of Swank and Company in Clymer, PA from 1943-1944 and then as a coal miner from 1946-1950 with CBC Coal Corp. in Commodore, PA.
Following his military service, Ernie attended Vale Tech in Blairsville, PA with the assistance of the GI Bill and graduated as an auto mechanic in 1951.
For seventeen years, Ernie worked at Gaston Motors in Punxsutawney, PA as a mechanic and service manager from 1952-1969. In 1986 he retired from building tires at McCreary Tire and Rubber Company in Indiana, PA after seventeen years of employment.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, traveling, gardening, fixing cars, comparative shopping and going to the Two Lick Valley Senior Center in Clymer.
Ernie is survived by his daughter, Shirley Ann (Houck) Auden and husband Richard of Laporte, PA; his grandson, Joshua Richard Auden and wife Sabrina Lynn (Scott) Auden of Brighton, MI; his two great-grandchildren, Alexander Joshua Auden and Arianna Lynn Auden, both of Brighton, MI and his sister, Edna Vitikas of North Jackson, OH.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty.
Ernie’s family kindly requests that for the visitation and funeral service masks be worn and social distancing be observed.
Family and friends will be received from 6-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at the Rairigh Funeral Home, Ltd., in Hillsdale, PA. A 2:00 p.m. funeral service will be held at the East Mahoning Baptist Church at 693 Sebring Road, Marion Center, PA (near Purchase Line) on Thursday, December 29, 2022 with Pastor Scott Sauers as the officiant.
Military honors will be accorded by the US Army. Interment will be at the East Mahoning Cemetery in Purchase Line, PA.
Memorial contributions in honor of Ernie may be forwarded to the East Mahoning Baptist Church in c/o: Linda Laney, 486 Cabbage Road, Northern Cambria, PA 15714,
Visit www.rairighfh.com to sign Ernie’s online guestbook and share a message.
