HOUSTON, Lois Ellen (BRITTON)

WILLIAMSON, BRITTON, HOUSTON, GOULD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/16/2016 at 01:36:57

BIOGRAPHY ~ LOIS ELLEN (BRITTON) HOUSTON
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Lois Ellen (Britton) Houston, the daughter of W. Allen and Alta C. (Williamson) Britton, was born In Ottawa, Illinois, on November 13, 1933. She grew up on farms in Miller and Mission Townships where many fellow Norwegian immigrant families resided. She attended one-room schools and graduated from Serena [Illinois] High School in 1951.

Lois came to Graceland in 1951 where she graduated with an A.A. degree in 1953. Upon her graduation, Lois worked for three years at the Center Stake Office in Independence, Missouri, where she met her future husband, Oliver Clifton "Ollie" Houston. The couple were married on June 24, 1956 at the Stone Church. They were the parents of two children, Todd Ashley and Tiffany Marie.

After her marriage, the Houstons moved to Lamoni where Ollie accepted a position with Graceland's music faculty. Lois accepted a position as Charlotte Gould's teacher's assistant from 1956 to 1959. When Mrs. Gould was on leave during the spring semester of 1959, Lois assumed full responsibility. Lois continued her education at Graceland from 1959 to 1965 and two summers at the University of Colorado, earning her B. A. in business education in 1965. She taught at Lamoni High School for a year prior to coming to Graceland as a preceptor during the 1969-70 school year. During the summers of 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972, Lois taught business education at Graceland.

While on campus, Lois served as pastoral assistant and sponsor of social clubs and as a member of the Faculty Social Committee. During the 1969-70 school year, she was secretary to the faculty.

Off campus, Lois was responsible for initiating the Lamoni Community Preschool and was involved with the League of Women Voters. In 1975, Lois was named Executive Director of the Area XIV Agency on Aging and helped obtain funding for Crown Colony Housing and the Meal Center Project in Lamoni. She initiated the Southern Iowa Trolley System in a seven-county area.

Lois retired in 2005 after serving 31 years as executive director of the area Agency on Aging in Southern Iowa.

Lois died at the age of 77 years on July 25, 2011 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Dr. Oliver Clifton "Ollie" Houston was born on September 24, 1928, in Independence, Missouri. He died at the age of 85 years on March 1, 2014 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

SOURCES:

Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where . . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 155-56. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Lois Ellen (Britton) Houston obituary

Rose Hill Cemetery transciption

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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