CARLTON EARL HOUSER

Lieutenant Colonel (USAF-Ret) Carlton Earl Houser, of Panama City, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011 at his home. He was 82. He was born on February 28, 1929 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Earl and May Houser. He grew up an only child in Scranton, Pa., and Rutherford, N.J. graduating from Rutherford High School in 1946. He attended Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Production Management in 1957. He was also a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Carl was a career US Air Force officer with 25 years of service. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1948 attaining the rank of Sergeant. He then applied and was accepted to Officer Candidate School, graduated Pilot Training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1951. He was assigned as a pilot to Special Air Missions for two years. Later he had assignments in the Comptroller field, having served in Germany, Thailand, the Panama Canal Zone, and various stateside assignments. Carl retired from the Air Force in 1973 after a final assignment as Director, Accounting and Finance for USAF Southern Command in the Panama Canal Zone.

His military career was followed by six years in the banking industry as an Assistant Vice President at Bay Bank and Trust. Fully retired since 1979, Carl had been a volunteer official of the Tyndall Federal Credit Union starting in 1983 serving on the Board of Directors as Member, Vice Chairman, Chairman, and on the Supervisory Committee. During this time he was also active on the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. A long time active member of the First United Methodist Church, Carl applied his finance background to service on the church's Finance Committee.

Carl was hardly idle in retirement, supporting his wife of over 55 years, Judith Douglass Houser, in community activities, including the Panama City and Gulf Coast Women's Clubs, and traveled regularly visiting family and friends across the country. He enjoyed golf, watching football, working on the computer, and fine dining. He made a mean Manhattan, a staple at Houser holiday feasts. Having been stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in the late 60's, he chose Panama City as his final home and resided there the past 38 years.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, his son Richard Houser and his wife Eva of Hollywood, South Carolina; his son Stephen Houser and his wife Nell of Round Rock, Texas; his daughter Cheryl Houser and her husband James Diffell of Columbia, Maryland; his daughter Judith Horne and her husband Edward of Fort Sill, Lawton, Oklahoma. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Sara Houser of Austin, Texas; Nicholas Houser of Round Rock, Texas; Abigail Houser of Round Rock, Texas;

Dad will be missed by all of us, but we know he is now with Mom, his true soul mate, whom he loved and missed dearly.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 12 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Warren officiating. Interment will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Wilson Funeral Home