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J. Ray Houser Obituary
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Rev. Dr. J. Ray Houser
Former Pastor Here, Dies The Rev. Dr. J. Ray Houser, 84, of Fairview Apartments, 515 Lang Drive, Cambridge (Preston), Ont., Canada, who had been pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church here for 26 years, died early today, Monday, March 16, 1981, at his home. Dr. Houser served St. Mark’s Church from 1928 to 1954. He retired as president of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Waterloo, Ont., a post he held from 1954 until 1968. He then served as pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Quiggleville, for six years after which the family returned to Canada. In 1967, on the 100th anniversary of the confederation of Canada, the Centennial Medal, in recognition of service to the nation, was conferred upon him by Queen Elizabeth. Dr. Houser received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and was graduated subsequently from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and honorary doctoral degrees from Muhlenburg College and Waterloo Seminary. He and his wife, the former Gertrude Drawbaugh, observed their 55th wedding anniversary last summer. He was ordained in 1924, the same year the couple married, by the Pittsburgh Synod of the Lutheran Church in America. Surviving, besides his wife, are twin son, Luther D., of Montoursville, and daughter, Miss Ardath E., of East Stroudsburg; another son, the Rev. J. Ray Jr., of Freedom, Beaver County; another daughter, Mrs. Marian Main, of Waterloo; a brother, the Rev. Dr. Donald L., of Hinsdale, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. Frances Huntsman, of Crawfordsville, Md., 11 grand children and two great-grand children. The funeral will be Wednesday at Waterloo Seminary. A memorial service is to be scheduled here later.
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