Ralph (Rick) Frederick Houser
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Ralph (Rick) Frederick Houser, 72, of Bethel, passed away July 21, 2021 at Mercy Hospital-Clermont after a battle with pneumonia.
Rick was born on June 23, 1949 to Ralph W. Houser and Madeline Benton Houser in Moscow, Ohio.
Rick attended Moscow schools until he moved over to Felicity-Franklin School District, where he graduated from Felicity-Franklin High School in 1967. Following graduation, Rick began farming full-time at the family farm on Fruit Ridge Road in Moscow. In 1971, Rick married his wife of 49 years, Sharon A. (nee Parrish) Houser. Together, they had two children, Meghan (Michael Spowart) Renee Houser and Brendan (Lacey) Ralph Lewis Houser.
In addition to farming, Rick obtained his license to sell real estate and joined his father’s company, Houser Realty, where he worked on the side as a salesman. Later on, Rick obtained his broker’s license and carried on the real estate business after his father’s passing, eventually changing the name to R. Houser Realty. Over the years, Rick tried his hand at various other jobs until 1982, when his brother and his law firm partner purchased a small nursing home in Bethel and asked Rick to serve as the operations manager. Morris Nursing Home and Adams County Manor played a large role in Rick’s legacy and ultimately became a platform for him to feed into his principal desire in life, loving people. Rick knew no stranger and no person ever left his presence feeling like one. He thrived on storytelling and bringing humor to the room and could spent countless hours rehashing memories.
Following his career, Rick took up writing and put all those memories and stories on paper. He wrote stories centered on life growing up in the country on a farm in the 1950s and '60s and convinced a couple local newspaper editors to publish his stories. In short time, he grew a following of readers who could relate and felt his authenticity. This turned into Rick becoming a longtime weekly columnist for seven different newspapers, including The Highland County Press, spanning over 13 counties in southern Ohio. Rick also wrote and published two books, “There Are Places I Remember” and “Memories Are From The Heart,” while also holding a monthly radio segment at a local radio station. He loved to tell the stories.
Rick was preceded in death by his father, Ralph W. Houser; his mother, Madeline Benton Houser; a sister, Peg Houser (Hess); and a brother, John “Ben” B. Houser.
Rick is survived by his wife, Sharon A. Houser (Parrish); a daughter, Meghan (Michael Spowart) Renee Houser; a son, Brendan (Lacey) Ralph Lewis Houser; and six grandchildren, Simon, Max, Miles, Madeline, Quinn and Lewis.
Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. until the time of service at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 at E.C. Nurre Funeral Home, 315 W. Plane Street, Bethel. Burial will take place following the funeral service at Pt. Isabel Cemetery in Washington Township.
For more information, visit https://www.ecnurre.com/.
Rick was born on June 23, 1949 to Ralph W. Houser and Madeline Benton Houser in Moscow, Ohio.
Rick attended Moscow schools until he moved over to Felicity-Franklin School District, where he graduated from Felicity-Franklin High School in 1967. Following graduation, Rick began farming full-time at the family farm on Fruit Ridge Road in Moscow. In 1971, Rick married his wife of 49 years, Sharon A. (nee Parrish) Houser. Together, they had two children, Meghan (Michael Spowart) Renee Houser and Brendan (Lacey) Ralph Lewis Houser.
In addition to farming, Rick obtained his license to sell real estate and joined his father’s company, Houser Realty, where he worked on the side as a salesman. Later on, Rick obtained his broker’s license and carried on the real estate business after his father’s passing, eventually changing the name to R. Houser Realty. Over the years, Rick tried his hand at various other jobs until 1982, when his brother and his law firm partner purchased a small nursing home in Bethel and asked Rick to serve as the operations manager. Morris Nursing Home and Adams County Manor played a large role in Rick’s legacy and ultimately became a platform for him to feed into his principal desire in life, loving people. Rick knew no stranger and no person ever left his presence feeling like one. He thrived on storytelling and bringing humor to the room and could spent countless hours rehashing memories.
Following his career, Rick took up writing and put all those memories and stories on paper. He wrote stories centered on life growing up in the country on a farm in the 1950s and '60s and convinced a couple local newspaper editors to publish his stories. In short time, he grew a following of readers who could relate and felt his authenticity. This turned into Rick becoming a longtime weekly columnist for seven different newspapers, including The Highland County Press, spanning over 13 counties in southern Ohio. Rick also wrote and published two books, “There Are Places I Remember” and “Memories Are From The Heart,” while also holding a monthly radio segment at a local radio station. He loved to tell the stories.
Rick was preceded in death by his father, Ralph W. Houser; his mother, Madeline Benton Houser; a sister, Peg Houser (Hess); and a brother, John “Ben” B. Houser.
Rick is survived by his wife, Sharon A. Houser (Parrish); a daughter, Meghan (Michael Spowart) Renee Houser; a son, Brendan (Lacey) Ralph Lewis Houser; and six grandchildren, Simon, Max, Miles, Madeline, Quinn and Lewis.
Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. until the time of service at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 at E.C. Nurre Funeral Home, 315 W. Plane Street, Bethel. Burial will take place following the funeral service at Pt. Isabel Cemetery in Washington Township.
For more information, visit https://www.ecnurre.com/.