Edward Wing Chamberlain Houser, 84
Wing Chamberlain Houser, 84, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, in Kalispell. He died peacefully, surrounded by loving family and friends.
Born March 27, 1922, in St. Louis, Wing was the oldest of two boys to Vic and Earlene Houser. His mother died unexpectedly when he was a child.
Vic married Melody Runyan, and she became mother to Wing and his younger brother, Robert. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1929. He graduated from Los Angeles High School and later attended Pomona College. A passion for the outdoors, hunting and large quantities of good food became his calling card at a young age.
He entered the United States Navy in 1942 and served his country with honor as a medical corpsman in the South Pacific during World War II and again during the Korean War.
After returning home, Wing finished college and went on to the University of Southern California, School of Dentistry. He started his practice working with disadvantaged children in southwest Los Angeles and later moved to Anaheim, Calif., where he practiced general dentistry until he retired. Dentistry, for Wing, was an art form and a labor of love. Even after he retired to Montana in 2004, he continued to receive letters of appreciation from grateful patients.
After a stroke in 2004, Wing moved into Prestige Assisted Living where he continued to make friends and bring smiles to the faces of staff and other residents. Later, he moved to Edgewood Vista where he kept his trademark indomitable spirit, in spite of the loss of many of his physical abilities. His family extends its heartfelt appreciation to the tireless care providers and to the medical community in Kalispell who made his last months comfortable and allowed him to enjoy his life and family to the fullest … right to the end. 'You know who you are. Thank you.'
Wing married twice; in 1948 to Deke Weber, and in 1959 to Elaine Kelly of Whittier, Calif. He had two children, Vic Houser, of Kalispell, and Wendy de Leon, of Whittier. Wendy and her husband, Rich, have four children and one grandchild. Vic and his wife Myia share seven children and six grandchildren.
Wing loved to have his family gathered around. His clan was by no means limited to his biological family. Many other people 'adopted' Wing and included him as an honored member of their families. These extended children and their children's children are too numerous to name. We will all miss him greatly.
Wing was a scientist, a perfectionist, a skeptic and for most of his life an agnostic. A 'grudging awareness' of God's presence in his life started 25 years ago and grew into a deeply personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One of his proudest moments was being baptized by his grandson, Pastor Joe Houser, the Christmas before he died.
Wing was a tall, striking man with a resonant voice who made an impression on everyone he met. He loved to laugh and play with little children. He always encouraged people to smile and when asked how he was doing, never failed to reply 'Absolutely Magnificent!' He became a role model for many.
People often remarked how Wing was 'one of a kind,' a true representative of the 'greatest generation.' His handshake was his contract; honor and integrity were more important to him than the bottom line. He was not perfect, but those are the things he believed in.
A celebration of his life will held at Glacier Church at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, with reception following at the church. Bring your laughter, stories, tears and memories of a remarkable man.
Another celebration of his life will be held for his friends and family in Southern California in December, the date and location to be announced in the near future.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Wing's family.