Ernest O. Houseman, Jr., of Orlando, Fla., passed away peacefully on December 4, 2020. Ernie was born in Brunswick, GA on December 4, 1926 to Ernest Ogg Houseman and Elizabeth Taylor Houseman. He received a BSEE degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1949 and a MSEE degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1955. He served in the US Navy during World War II from 1944-1946, spending part of that time as a Machinist Mate 3rd class on the USS Alabama. He also served in the US Army Artillery as a First Lieutenant from 1950-1954. He was a member of the Third Infantry Division and took part in the first six campaigns of the Korean War. While stationed in the US Army at Ft. Benning, he met his future wife, Blanche Elizabeth “Betty” Spain. They were married in 1953 and had two children, Elizabeth “Betsy” Houseman and William “Will” Spain. In 1959 he moved to Orlando where he was employed by The Martin Company. He retired as a Senior Staff Engineer in 1989.
Ernie was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time on the boat and fishing. He was a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church for 25 years and an active member of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke for over 30 years. He was a past President of the Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati and a member of the Society at Colonial Wars in the state of Georgia. Ernie was a member of the University Club of Winter Park, the Country Club of Orlando, the Orlando Power Squadron, and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
Ernie was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Blanche Elizabeth “Betty” Spain, his son William “Will” Spain Houseman, and brother William Berrien Houseman. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” Houseman Fester (Jeff Fester); granddaughter Carolyn Elizabeth Kimbro (Tyler Kimbro) and Thompson “Tommy” Taylor Fester; great grandsons Luke Harvey Kimbro and Blake Ernest Kimbro.
A graveside service will take place on December 11 at 11:00 at Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick, GA. A memorial service will be held on January 2, 2021 at 11:00 at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 130 N. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Cathedral Church of St. Luke or St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.
Posted in: Orlando Sentinel
Posted on: 2020-12-08
Link to original obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orlandosentinel/name/ernest-ogg-houseman-ernie-obituary?n=ernest-ogg-houseman-ernie&pid=197241775