Bob Houston
Robert Ogilvie "Bob" Houston (1937 – 31 December 2022) was a civil engineer and the husband of Loraine Houston.
Career
Bob graduated from the University of Saskatchewan as a professional civil engineer in 1960 and joined the Saskatchewan Department of Highways, working in its Maintenance and Computer Branch for eighteen years, first in Rosetown and then in Regina.[1] In the mid-1960s, working on an IBM System/360 mainframe, he wrote one of the department's first computerized payroll programs, coded in COBOL; it had to account for hourly wage variations, union agreements, overtime, and deductions for hundreds of workers.[2]
In 1978 he moved to Alberta Transportation's Motor Transport Branch, where his work included the regulation and engineering oversight of oversized and overweight loads for the province's oil and oil-sands industry — among them the slow, carefully engineered movement of heavy loads across bridges. He retired as Director of Transport Engineering in 1993.[1][2]
Obituary
Peacefully on Dec 31, 2022 Robert Ogilvie Houston passed into the loving arms of Jesus while surrounded by his family at the Innisfail General Hospital at the age of 85.
Bob was the youngest of four and the only son. He had three older sisters who all predeceased him, Betty Fraser, Evelyn Stewart, and Helen Pachkowsky. He was also predeceased by his parents, James and Clara Houston, brothers-in-law Jim Fraser, Hugh Stewart and Sylvester Pachkowsky, son-in-law Jeremy Morse and nephews Dave and Neil Fraser.
He is survived by his loving wife Charlotte Loraine, children Ann Morse, Rob Houston, Laura Houston and his beloved granddaughter Emily Morse.
Bob received his elementary and high school education in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan as a Professional (Civil) Engineer in 1960. He then started his career with the Saskatchewan Department of Highways Maintenance and Computer Branch for eighteen years first in Rosetown then Regina. In 1978 he was requested to come to Alberta Transportation Motor Transport Branch where he worked until retiring as Director of Transport Engineer in 1993.
Bob and Loraine (Newman) were married in Saskatoon on May 20, 1961.
Bob loved to golf and curl until knee problems curtailed these pursuits. He enjoyed reading, watching historical tv programs, gardening. He thoroughly enjoyed coffee with his buddies a few times a week. He loved all dogs and had a special relationship with his oldest daughter’s dogs.
He was a man with a deep Christian faith that he showed in the way he lived and loved.
He leaves to mourn his family, friends and extended family, Dave and Lois Newman, John Newman, plus many nieces, nephews and their families.
A Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at CrossRoads Church (38105 Range Road 275) at 2:00 PM. The service will also be livestreamed, and can be viewed at (CrossRoads Church | Red Deer – Funerals). Bob requested in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Robert Ogilvie Houston", Eventide Funeral Home obituary. https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/eventide/obituaries/robert-ogilvie-houston/97674.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Audio recording and notes from a family dinner in Red Deer, Alberta, 20 September 2018, recorded by Michael Currie, who attended with David Harold Newman, Lois Jean Newman, Loraine Houston, and Bob Houston.