Cloise Houk Jr., 84, formerly of Wurtemburg Road, Ellwood City, died Thursday at The Worthington at Adams in Mars.

He was born in Ellwood City on Oct. 4, 1924, to the late Cloise Houk Sr., and the late Florence Klingensmith Houk.

Mr. Houk had worked at Aetna-Standard in Ellwood City until retiring in 1986, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

He belonged to the F.&A.M. 599, Ellwood Lodge and was awarded his 50-year pin on March 30. He also belonged to the New Castle Consistory and Syria Shrine. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 252; past president of the Wayne Township Fire Department and Coachman Chapter 28, Blazing Stars. He loved riding and caring for his horses and dogs. He enjoyed hunting and camping with the Coachman Club. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Patricia A. Evans Houk, who died Feb. 28, 2006; two sisters, Eleanor Zikeli and Phyllis Barker; and a grandson in infancy.

Mr. Houk is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter and a son-in-law: Stanley and Barbara Houk of Dyer, Ind.; Jeffrey and Janetta Houk of Butler; and Beth and Mark Aiken of New Castle; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Esther Bartle Heidt of Westlake, Ohio.

<B>HOUK </B> No public visitation is planned for Cloise Houk Jr., who died Thursday, April 2, 2009. Memorial services are planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, Fifth Street and Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City. Burial will be in Sylvania Hill Memorial Park.Members of the F.&A.M. 599, Ellwood Lodge will provide Masonic Funeral Services and full military rites are by the Veterans Honor Guard at the church.Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence County Humane Society, P.O. Box 62, New Castle, PA 16103.Arrangements are entrusted to <B>TURNER FUNERAL HOME,</B> Sixth Street and Park Avenue, Ellwood City.