Obituary of Thomas L. Houston

Thomas Houston, passed away Tues, May 3rd 2016 in Boston from complications of lymphoma. Known to his family and friends as Tom, he was born in Altoona Hospital on a very snowy day on April 23rd in 1956. He was born to Nancy and Herbert Houston. Later he was joined by his siblings Andy and Mark. He lived most of his childhood years in West Chester, PA, and graduated from Henderson High School. After his mother died, his father remarried Sarah Lee Ough and he instantly gained 3 more step-siblings: Larry, Sallie, and Martha. After graduation, he attended the Pennsylvania State University, earning his B.A. in philosophy in 1979. Tom always had a love for and a facility with languages, and in 1982 began his M.A. degree in Spanish Linguistics from PSU which he earned in 1985. On May 22, 1982 he married Jeanne Visnovsky, and they began their matrimonial adventure of almost 34 years. They were blessed with 4 children: Isaiah, Monica, Micah, and Ezra, who enriched and enlivened every moment of their family life together. Anyone who knew Tom, knew he loved his Lord and early on had a sense of calling to pastoral ministry. He worked for the Coalition for Christian Outreach through his church, working with graduates and undergraduates at Penn State from 1985-1988. He was also involved with prison ministry both at Huntingdon Prison, and Rockview State Correctional Institution, often leading Bible studies in Spanish. Sensing a desire to further his theological education and a call to the pastorate, Tom studied and received his M.Div. from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA in 1991. During seminary years, he taught Spanish both for the College of Allegheny County and for Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. He was called to serve as an elder and pastor in Lancaster as well as State College, PA; and most recently as Assistant Pastor of Oakwood Presbyterian Church, State College. He loved teaching and preaching in Spanish, and had the opportunity to work with pastors, church workers and seminary students in Central and South America, through Mission to the World, training and mentoring them in Biblical Studies, and Christian Discipleship, a labor he never tired of. He considered himself very fortunate to also have a position as Lecturer of Spanish at Penn State, from 2001- 2016. It was a job he exceled at and loved. In 2015 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in his department. He was received Outstanding Teacher Award for the College of Liberal Arts in 2012, and another teaching award for the Spanish Department in 2016. He always did his work cheerfully and wholeheartedly as unto the Lord; never to please men, but to please his Savior, Jesus, whom he now sees face to face. The memorial service will be held Thursday, May 12th, 2016 at 12 noon, Oakwood Presbyterian Church, 1865 Waddle Rd. State College, PA 16803. A private burial will be held at Graysville Cemetery in Graysville, PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to The International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF for short), 6144 Clark Center Ave. Sarasota, FL 34238 or by going to www.iwmf.com. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.