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Miles “Bud” Houchins Miles (Bud) Sherman Houchins was born in Storm Lake, Iowa on August 4, 1929, son of Charles Sherman and Carrie Lois Houchins. Bud graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1947. In 1949 he married Grace Speckman. This union had four children, one of which died when only a few hours old. Grace passed away on November 6, 2000. Most of Bud’s adult life was spent in California where he worked for the Pacific Bell Telephone Company, retiring after 30 years of service. The two loves of Bud’s life were football (playing and coaching) and golf. While in California, Bud coached several Pop Warner youth football teams, emphasizing good sportsmanship and how to respect other people’s feelings. His team won the Good Sportsmanship Award three years in a row, including one year when his team also won the championship. After retirement, Bud concentrated on golf. He was a member of the Eager Beavers golf group and the Over the Hill men’s group, both in Newhall, CA. Bud was a member of the Lutheran Church in California and served several years as a youth leader. At the time of his passing, Bud was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. On June 2, 2001, Bud married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jean Sylvester. They lived briefly in California and then returned to Spirit Lake in May of 2003. Unfortunately, their return was marred by Bud’s stroke and lung problems, both occurring in August of that year. Bud passed way on October 19, 2006 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) at seventy-seven years of age. Bud is survived by his wife Mary Jean, his daughter JoAnn (Karl) Kurtz of Castaic, CA, his son John of Moorpark, CA and son Dana (Karla) of Oklahoma City, OK; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two stepchildren, Kathy (Conrad) Shepard of Anthem, AZ and Michael (Sally) Wicks of Sturgis, MI and five step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters, his first wife and his infant son. IN MEMORY SERIVCES CLERGY INTERMENT |