Robert Ray Houpt

Robert Ray Houpt, 90, went home to heaven on February 6, 2025 after a brief illness. His most recent residence was on the Assisted Living floor of Westminster Village in Terre Haute, where he quickly made friends with residents and staff, started a Sunday morning church service, and enjoyed crossword puzzles and devotional books. A life-long Hoosier, Bob was born in Sullivan on Feb. 20, 1934, to Clara Willie and Herman Houpt. He married Delores Young on August 14, 1954, and the couple set up housekeeping in Ellettsville. They later moved to Owen County and lived there for 20 years before settling in Bloomington. While in Owen County, Bob was a member of the county’s Volunteer Fire Department. Bob and Delores always put their talents to use in a local church, wherever they lived. For much of his working life, Bob was involved in the printing business. He started in 1958 with Farm Bureau Printing Co-op in Spencer. After gaining more experience at the Ellettsville Journal, Wetterau in Bloomington, and Mid-Land Press in Spencer, he joined the then-named Daily Herald-Telephone newspaper in Bloomington in 1969. He worked in the H-T’s composing room for 27 years before his retirement, which he happily spent on woodworking projects, church activities, and time with his children and grandchildren. Bob served on active duty in the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force from 1954-1957 and stayed on in the reserves for several years after his discharge. He was a radio repairman on B-26 airplanes and spent 18 months of his full-time service in Japan. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Delores, who died June 10, 1999; their son Danny, age 3, who was born with a heart defect and died in 1961; Bob’s brother Hubert Houpt, and his sister Clara Lee Roesner. Bob is survived by three children: son Dennis (Lisa) Houpt of Perrysburg, OH, grandchildren Christian (Wade Neller) of Tampa, FL, Taylor (Hunter Ayers) of Toledo, OH, and Noah Houpt (Erica Tracewell) of Dover, NH, and great grandchild Maxwell Neller; son Lowell (Tracy Lane) Houpt of Terre Haute, IN, grandchildren Kelly (Patrick Meyer) of Terre Haute, Kyle Houpt (Stephanie Figueroa) of Bloomington, IN, and great grandchild Rory Meyer; son Tracy Jon (Suzy) Houpt of Fort Worth TX, grandchildren Jackie (Ryan Hatcher) of Braselton, GA, Sarah Houpt of Fort Worth, TX, Bonnie (Josh Siniard) of Highlands Ranch, CO, Emma Houpt of Atlanta, GA, and great grandchildren Sullivan, Ramsey, and Lachlan Hatcher. Visitation will be on Saturday, Feb. 22nd, at 12 noon at Allen Funeral Home in Bloomington, followed by the service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Methodist Cemetery in Ellettsville with military honors provided by the Monroe County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Hospice. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.allencares.com.

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Robert Ray Houpt

February 20, 1934 - February 6, 2025