Henry Houck Obituary

Henry (Hank) Hopkins Houck 95, passed away peacefully on November 2 at his home in Annapolis, surrounded by family. Hank was born in Cumberland Maryland to Henry Charles, and Marie Hopkins Houck, on May 24, 1929. He was the oldest of 6 children and his family soon moved to Washington, DC where he grew up. In 1952, he married his sweetheart, Patricia Hance in Tokyo, Japan, where he was stationed during the Korean War. When his service ended, they moved to Greenbelt, Maryland and started their family. In 1961, after outgrowing their row home, they moved to a brand new home in Belair at Bowie, Maryland, where they raised their 8 children. Before his 50 year career working as background investigator for the Department of Defense, Hank was a core teacher at Duval High School and also moonlighted as a Capitol Hill policeman. For 27 years, Hank and Pat owned and operated Gringada Mexican Restaurant in Beltsville, MD. They also ran La Gringada Restaurants in Bowie and Columbia, MD. Hank was a former University of Maryland basketball player and one of the founding members of the Bowie Boys Club, where he coached basketball and was the first baseball commissioner. He was an avid sailor and enjoyed spending time with his J Dock friends at Calvert Marina. Hank loved Broadway shows and was a board member of the Annapolis Summer Garden Theater. Hank is survived by his wife, Patricia, brother Joseph Houck (Debbie), sister Mary Theresa Blakeslee (Larry), sons, Leigh Houck (Cara), Kenneth Houck, (Lisa), Michael Houck, Paul Houck (Allison), David Houck (Linda), and daughters Barbara Houck, and Kristine Rogers (Richard). He is also survived by his 17 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Hank was preceeded in death by his son, Daniel.