Obituary

Rosedale Cemetery
Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

Dale Raymond Hougas

July 5, 1926 - July 18, 2009

© Criswell Funeral Home

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Services for Dale Raymond Hougas, 83, Ada, are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Carl Hayes, officiating. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. Full military honors will be conducted at the cemetery.

Mr. Hougas died Saturday, July 18, 2009, at an Ada nursing center. He was born July 5, 1926, at Seneca, Ill., to Adlai and Cecilia Hilton Hougas.

He attended school in Morris, Ill., and other schools of continuing education. He was a retired Army master sergeant having served more than 20 years on active duty. During World War II he saw action in Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, southern France and Germany. He also served in Korea. Mr. Hougas was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Commendation Medal, Presidential Citation and numerous other awards and decorations. He retired Jan. 31, 1963, as the senior regular Army advisor to the Army Reserve program in Ada.

He was a former Scoutmaster at the First Baptist Church, a member of the Ada Boys Club board of directors, Ada Campfire Girl Council, Ada City Council where he served as vice mayor, Ada Kiwanis Club, Ada Underwriters Association serving as president, Ada Post 1202 Veterans of Foreign Wars, United Commercial Travelers, American Association of Retired People, the Masonic Fraternity, past master of Stuttgart Military Lodge in Stuttgart, Germany, Ada Lodge No. 119 AF & AM, Pontotoc Lodge No. 136, past master of the Ada York Rite Bodies and a Knight York Rite Cross of Honor, St. Lukes Conclave, Red Cross Constantine, Shriner, McAlester Scottish Rite Bodies and past Commander of Kadosh, a 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason and the Royal Order of Scotland.

He married Faye Purkey on July 4, 1947, in Garmisch, Germany.

Survivors include his wife, Faye, of the home; two daughters, Toni Lamb and husband Mike, Mission Hills, Kan., and Terry Zellmer and husband George, McAlester; four grandchildren, Brigette Jones and husband, Shane, Ada, Mandy Powell and husband Larry, Mission Hills, Kan., Kimberly Zellmer, Oklahoma City, and Grant Zellmer, Norman; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, James Hougas, Morris, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Jared Lamb; and 10 brothers and sisters.

Bearers will be members of the Ada Masonic Lodge.

Honorary bearers will be Tom Gillum, Glenn Love, Shorty Love and Corky Hudson.

Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to Criswell Funeral Home, Ada.