Max L. Houchins

Max L. "Bud" Houchins, 78, of Topeka, died Sunday, June 6, 2004 at a Topeka hospital. He was born on June 15, 1925 in Savonburg, Kansas, the son of James H. and Grace M. Boman Houchins. Mr. Houchins graduated from Topeka High School in 1943. He attended electricians school at Iowa State University. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII, serving on the USS Weeden (DE-797) He was employed as an electrical engineer with KPL. He later became a car salesman for Scott Puffer Cheverlot. He later helped his son at Jayhawk Moving And Storage, Inc. He was a member of Northland Christian Church, Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion, Philip Billard Post No. 1650, V.F.W., the Masonic Lodge and was active in the Boy Scouts of America program. He married Erma R. Burkdoll on December 30, 1945 in Lyndon, Ks. She survives. Other survivors include one son, James B. Houchins and his wife, Golda of Topeka, one daughter, Holly A. Coleman and her husband Joel of Belgrade, Montana, six grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Northland Christian Church. Burial will follow in Penwell-Gabel Memorial Park Cemetery where military honors will be presented by a Navy burial detail from the National Reserve Center in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Houchins will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. Memorial contributions may be given to the Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 N.W. Rochester Rd., Topeka, Ks. 66617 or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, Ks. 66601-1653. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.penwellgabel.com.