Obituary of William Walter Houkes
William Walter Houkes, age 69, of Venice, FL passed away on February 9, 2022 after a short illness. Bill will be remembered by his family and friends as a down to earth person, devoted husband and loving and proud father with an amazing sense of humor. He had a heartfelt kindness and generosity for all the people he knew.
Bill was born December 1, 1952 to William H. and Rosalie H. Houkes at the Germantown Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. After Bill graduated from Brandywine High School in 1971, he worked for the DuPont Co. in Glasgow, DE.
He married Laurie Jo Beyler in June of 1975. They both then attended and graduated from Ferris State University. Bill graduated with an AA in Ophthalmic Dispensing and a BS in Business in 1980. He was then employed by Albright Opticians in Lancaster, PA. In 1982, Bill started what would become a successful antiques business, eventually selling at Renninger’s Antique Market, Adamstown, PA every Sunday beginning in 1983, while also participating in a few antiques shows.
Bill was quite humble for an antique dealer, never saying he was the ultimate expert, but rather, shared his enthusiasm and love of antiques with his fellow dealers and customers. Starting with Depression Era glassware he progressed to English ceramics made for export to the American market. This included spatterware, Leedsware, mochaware, and Gaudy Dutch. He also bought and sold stoneware, country furniture, redware, ironware, fraktur, yellowware, and anything “Pennsylvania Dutch”.
He moved with his wife and daughter, Abigail to Celebration , FL in 2004 while commuting back to PA to conduct business. In 2008, Bill concluded the antiques business in order to care for his ill-stricken wife and young daughter. Then in 2011, he became a licensed auctioneer and opened Bill Houkes’ Auction in Davenport, FL. In 2016, Bill retired and moved to Venice, FL with his family. In Venice he enjoyed walking, sitting under an umbrella on the beach, listening to music and doing yard work.
Bill was preceded by his father and mother, William H. and Rosalie H. Houkes.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Laurie J. Houkes of Venice, his daughter, Abigail, and 2 younger sisters, Elizabeth Ann Houkes Sheeran and her husband Gregory of CMCH, NJ, and Susan Marie Houkes Rovai and her husband Philip of Cambria, CA; nephew, Michael Sheeran and niece Jennifer Sheeran Heun, and her husband Philip Heun.
As an alternative to flowers donations to the American Cancer Society are suggested.
Visitation will be at Farley Funeral Home, Venice, on Saturday, February 26th from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Epiphany Cathedral at 1:00 pm following visitation, and burial will be at Venice Memorial Gardens.
To share a memory of Bill or to send a condolence to the family visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.
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