Hugh & Deborah Houghton - Obituary

ong-time Annapolis residents Hugh and Deborah Houghton passed on June 27 and June 10, respectively, in Winter Park, FL, where they had relocated to be closer to family. Deborah passed after a sudden and short illness. Hugh, who had experienced many health challenges in the past several years, passed shortly after Deborah, who had been a devoted caregiver to Hugh. Hugh and Deborah met in Annapolis in 1977 through the Crabtown Ski Club and married in 1984. They lived in the Anchorage community and were avid skiers and sailors. They adored Shetland Sheepdogs (“Shelties”) and had at least one Sheltie for most of their married life. They were active members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, where Deborah was involved in the prayer and baptismal shawl ministries, and Hugh used his woodworking skills to create beautiful wood pledge boxes. Hugh and Deborah both enjoyed travel and traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, Central America, and South America. Hugh enjoyed woodworking and used his basement woodshop to create hand-turned peppermills and pens, which he gifted to friends and family and sold at the Anne Arundel County Farmers’ Market in his retirement. Deborah was a quilter and enjoyed sewing and needlework. She also loved to cook and create elaborate meals for family gatherings. Hugh retired from the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, where he worked as a shop teacher at Southern High School. Prior to his teaching career, Hugh had worked in computer software development and sales and also served in the United States Navy. Deborah retired from a lengthy career as a chemist with the United States Navy, working at both the David Taylor Research Center in Annapolis and Carderock Lab in Bethesda. Hugh earned an Engineering degree from the University of Louisville, while Deborah earned a Chemistry degree from Drexel University. Hugh is survived by nephews Hugh Yochum (Deborah) of Woolwich, NJ, and Lawrence Yochum of Colorado Springs, CO, and nieces Julie Gardiner (Walter) of Hollywood, MD, Sarah Mayhall of Vincennes, IN, and Laura Terese Couch (Gino – deceased) of Charleston, IN. Deborah’s survivors include sister Kathy Andersen-Smith of Cape Canaveral, FL, and nephew David Andrew Smith (Oscar Baltodano) of Winter Park, FL. A funeral service for both Hugh and Deborah will be held at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church on Friday, July 31 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception for friends and family. A private burial for family will occur at the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery.