Edgar Joseph Houle (1969)

HOULE, MOTT, KING

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/3/2008 at 13:40:11

Earlham Echo – August 14, 1969

Obituary

Edgar Joseph Houle, son of Stanislas Houle and Malvina Danis Houle, was born on a farm near Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada, on June 10, 1896. When he was a young child his family moved to New England, and he grew up there. He served in the armed forces in World War I. After this he did forestry work in New Hampshire and for two years was a guard in the New Hampshire State Prison. He liked to fish and to hike in the mountains.

For many years he was a foreman at the Union Hardware Company in Torrington, Conn., which manufactured skates. He was inventive and devised improvements in the manufacturing process which saved money for the company.

In 1941 he came to Earlham, Iowa, where he and Mary Mott were married. For some years he was employed by the National By Products Company in Des Moines, where he and his wife made their home. At one time the company sent him to Denver, Colorado to set up machinery for a new branch factory.

From 1952 to 1962 he was employed at Look Magazine Subscription Department in Des Moines. On his retirement in 1962 he and his wife lived in Earlham.

In October, 1967, he suffered a stroke which left him partially helpless. This condition was hard for him to accept, but visitors may remember his cheerfulness and gratitude for kindnesses. He did not say much about it, but he was deeply interested in the spiritual life.

He passed away August 7, 1969 at the Des Moines General Hospital. Funeral services were held at the Bear Creek Conservative Meeting House at 2 o’clock on Sunday, August 10, 1969, with interment at Bear Creek cemetery. The Reverend John Baxter of the Earlham Friends’ Church conducted the graveside service. Casket bearers were Wayne Thomas, Allen Treadway, Ellis Standing, Roy Knight, Clarence Pryor and Gordon Standing.

He is survived by his wife and by his sister, Mrs. Emma King of Concord, N. H., also by his nephews Joseph and Augustin King and Arthur and George Houle, and a niece Mona Houle, widow of nephew William Houle.