VADM William "Bill" Houser, USN (Ret.) entered the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in the summer of 1938 as a member of the Class of 42. Graduating early with his Class in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific aboard the USS Nashville. He entered flight training in 1945, being designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He saw combat in Korea as the commanding officer of VF-44 and in the Viet Nam War as commanding officer of the carrier USS Constellation. Other sea commands included VF-124, USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division TWO as a flag officer. His final tour of duty was as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare. He was honored as a United States Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate in 2003 and Tailhooker of the Year in 1972. He helped establish the Midway Foundation and annual Navy Midway Dinner. His memberships included USNA Foundation Trustee, USNA Alumni Association, Tailhook Association, Golden Eagles, Association of Naval Aviation, Midway Foundation, Military Order of the Carabao, Army Navy Country Club, and Bohemian Club. He was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served during and after World War II as a WAVE. Betty Lou passed away May 16, 1997. VADM Houser passed away February 5, 2012, survived by his second wife Jan King Evans, three daughters (Cindy Riera, Gayle Fogleman, and Francie Washington), six grandchildren, and great granddaughter. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, followed by his burial with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org or Alzheimer's Association.
Published in The Washington Post on February 26, 2012