William Edmund Houston, USAF

September 24, 1932 – February 05, 2017

CONCORD – William Edmund “”Nick”” Houston, 84, of Concord, passed away peacefully to be with our Lord on Friday, Feb. 5, 2017, at the Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen.

Nick, son of the late Blanche A. and Everett Y. Houston, leaves his wife of 62 years, Barbara (Chartrand) Houston. Nick leaves his late brother, Robert C. Houston, and his wife, Edith; brothers Everett Houston and his late wife, Marianne, and Donald Houston and his wife, Joanne. Nick also leaves his two sons, Will Houston and Brett Houston, their families, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Will’s wife, Cindy, and their sons, Nicholas and his wife, Beth, and Noah and his wife, Lindsey; Brett’s former wife, Deborah Simonton, and their daughters, Danielle Smith and her husband, Justin, Brittany Regis and her husband, Paul, and Lindsay Houston and her fiancé, Jack Mullen. Nick’s beloved great-grandchildren include Hannah and Bryce Houston, Hunter and Grayson Houston, Leah and Houston Smith and Isla Regis, along with many loved nephews and nieces.

Although Nick was a long-term resident of Concord, he grew up in Contoocook and graduated from Hopkinton High School. He earned his BS degree from UNH in 1954 and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Nick went on to earn his Master’s degree from UNH in 1986.

Nick joined the US Air Force after college and became a pilot trained in air-sea rescue and, after serving his commitment to the USAF in 1958, took his family and his love of flying to Progreso, Honduras, where he flew helicopters for the Chiquita Banana Company. After his flying days, Nick began teaching High School in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, for a couple of years before settling back in New Hampshire where he taught math, science, aviation and building construction at Concord High School until his retirement in 1997.

Nick devoted much of his life to studying the Bible and was instrumental in establishing and growing the Concord Bible Fellowship Church in Concord. He loved his Lord and the time he could spend with his Church Family, including their fellowship, Vacation Bible School and being involved with the oversight of the Church. Anyone who knew Nick, knew he walked with God – he lit up a room with his smile and his grace.

Nick was a sportsman who loved his Red Sox and Patriots and playing golf with his family and friends whenever possible. Nick, despite being a gentle soul, was extremely competitive and excelled at golf, baseball, softball, horseshoes, and just about any game he took on. Nick coached all of his granddaughters in Little League softball with his son, Brett, and helped coach several Concord National Little League teams that went on to win city and State Championships.

Nick was always with his boys and their families, whether it was a sports event, family gatherings or helping out with a project – Nick was always there. He cherished any time he could spend with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he was loved deeply by them all.

Nick will be remembered for his beautiful smile and his love: his love and devotion to his “”Barbie,”” his love for his family and his Love of God, his Savior Jesus Christ, and his love for his beloved family at Concord Bible Fellowship.

SERVICES: A remembrance and celebration of Nick’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at the New Beginnings Church Of The Nazarene, 33 Staniels Road, Loudon, N.H. Coffee and refreshments to follow.

A private burial service for the family will follow later in the day at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Edna Mc-Kenna Trust Fund, Merrimack County Nursing Home, 325 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303. Published by Union Leader on Feb. 14, 2017.