Anita Houser

Anita (Losure) Houser, 85, a resident of rural Portland at Antiville, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at IU Health Jay in Portland. She was born March 1, 1939, in Poneto to Donald and Hildred (Brinneman) Losure.
She was the valedictorian of Van Buren High School class of 1957. By 1961, she earned her math education B.S. from Huntington College where she met R.D. Houser, whom she married July 9, 1961. She taught math in Geneva, Portland and Berne. Later, she earned her pilot’s license.
Together, they lived in Bryant, Cahokia, Illinois and Williamsburg, Virginia and finally settled in Antiville, north of Portland to raise their family.
In 1985, she earned her second B.S. from Taylor University in computer science, so she could help put her kids through college.
Some of her favorite activities were gardening and preserving food for her family. She modeled a determination in using and appreciating wild foods: black raspberries, wild strawberries and morels. Flowers were her joy. The fragrance of lilacs and hyacinths gave her the greatest pleasure.
Sewing was a hobby she never gave up from making her wedding dress, her children’s clothes and endless mending through grandchildren’s pajamas.
Classical music was always playing at home. She encouraged Don in band and Marie in piano. Later in life, she was eager to attend her grandchildren’s recitals and band concerts.
She was always active in her local churches: Bryant Wesleyan, Portland Nazarene and lastly Union Chapel. She supported world missions through Wycliffe Bible Translators, Mission Aviation Fellowship and World Gospel Mission.
She is survived by her husband of rural Portland; son, Don (Kyong) Houser of Seattle, Washington; daughter, Marie (Mark) McKinley of rural Portland; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and a sister.
Visitation will be Monday, April 15 from 4-7 p.m. and Tuesday, April 16 for one hour prior to the 11 a.m. service to celebrate her life at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland. Officiating will be Pastor Richard Secor. Burial will be at Gravel Hill Cemetery, west of Bryant.
Memorials may be made to World Gospel Mission, 3783 E. State Road 18, Marion, IN 46952 or Mission Aviation Fellowship, P.O. Box 47, Nampa, ID 83687.
Arrangements provided by Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home in Portland. Online condolences may be made at www.williamsonspencer.com.