Theodore J. (Ted) Houston Jr., 90, died Tuesday December 1, 2020 four days after suffering a stroke. He was born in Concord onFebruary 2, 1930, the son of Theodore J. Houston Sr. and Helen Kimball Houston. Raised in Belmont, Massachusetts, and spending summers with his grandparents in Farmington and Boscawen, he graduated with the Belmont High School Class of 1947. He attended the University of New Hampshire but left after his freshman year to pursue military service. On completion of active duty he returned to the University of New Hampshire and Theta Chi fraternity, but finished his degree with the Plymouth Teachers College class of 1953.
He remained in the United States Army Reserve for 34 years, retiring as a Sergeant Major in 1981. Ted taught school and was principal of the Lincoln School in Lincoln, and was the first principal of the Maple Avenue School in Goffstown. In 1960 he began teaching in the public schools in Newton, Massachusetts and remained there until his retirement in 1991. He loved teaching, trading in his administrative experience for a chance to remain in the classroom with his “kiddos.” His Plymouth classmates and his many teaching colleagues remained treasured friends throughout his life.
While living in Massachusetts he became an avid Revolutionary War reenactor, belonging to several 18th century re-enactment groups. He was a founding member of the Bedford Minuteman Company, rising to captain of the company and participating in events throughout the Northeast. Later he joined “Rochambeau’s Army” and participated in re-enactments as far away as Yorktown, Virginia, and even Paris, France. An early proponent of recreational vehicles, he traveled extensively with the family throughout North America, as well as several trips to Europe and the Caribbean. In 1968 he took his family north to Alaska in the day when such an adventure meant twelve flat tires and two broken wheels along the Alaska Highway.
On settling in Boscawen, he enjoyed an active retirement divided between community involvement, restoring his 18th century home, and travel. He served eight years as a Selectman and was instrumental in bringing the State Veterans Cemetery to Boscawen, a cause he dearly loved. An active FreeMason for more than 65 years, he was Past Master of Parker Lodge No. 97 in North Woodstock, and a member of Scottish Rite. He was a recipient of the General John Stark Medal from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire for service to New Hampshire Masonry. Throughout his life,
Ted believed deeply in service to others, whether through teaching, the military, Masonry, volunteering with the Boy Scouts, and the churches he belonged to, or by donating blood. From the first moment he could he was a consistent blood donor giving dozens of blood units until advancing age forced him to stop. Then he found other ways to serve. Late in life he spent more than 20 years volunteering in the Emergency Department at Concord Hospital in Concord.
Ted was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Cynthia A. Houston of Boscawen, and his sister Mary Ann Hermance of Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is also survived by three children, COL (ret.) James C. Allard and his wife Gail of Pittsfield, Douglas M. Houston and his wife Suzanne of Farmington, and Deborah Goodin and her husband Douglas of Andover. He is further survived by two grandsons, Jason Allard and Maxwell Goodin, as well as a niece, Susan Leister of Williston, Vermont, and nephew, David Hermance of Scituate, Massachusetts.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services and interment at the State Veterans Cemetery are planned for May of 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to the Boscawen Historical Society (boscawenhistoricalsociety.com), or the Scottish Rite Childrens Dyslexia Centers (childrensdyslexiacenters.org/donate), or consider becoming a blood donor (redcrossblood.org). Arrangements have been entrusted to Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please visit phaneuf.net.