- Date Of Birth: November 18, 1929
- Date Of Death: September 22, 2012
- State: Florida
Laurence P. “Phil” Van Houten, age 82, passed away Sept. 22, 2012.
He was born Nov. 18, 1929, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to his parents, Fern Hall and James H. Van Houten.
Along this time, their “Bundle of Joy” arrived while they were stationed in California. Their first daughter made for a perfect addition to family life.
Phil devoted his life to the scripture verse 1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” His last greeting would always be, “I love you.” He shared his love with family, friends, neighbors and the community. He even opened his home and heart to foreign exchange students and foster children. While in Niceville, the final blessed addition to their family arrived with the gift of another daughter, Stacey! This redheaded beauty made their family complete!
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Fern Hall and James H. Van Houten; his sons, George and Steven; his step-parents, James Davis and Sarah Oegema; his father-in-law, Samford Henley; his mother-in-law, Madelyn Palmer; his step father-in-law, John Allen Elliott; and his sister-in-law, Wynette Henley.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Lillian; daughters, Joy and husband, David, and Stacey; daughter-in-laws, Laurie and Vivian; brothers, Victor and wife, Marilyn, James and wife, Sylvia, Charles and wife, Loraine, and Ralph and wife, Maureen; sisters, Marcia, Dorine and husband, Douglas, and Patricia; brother-in-laws, Ed and James; sister-in-laws, Belle, Dora, Brenda, Janet, Sharon, Jenapher and Charlene; grandchildren, Shawn, Phillip and wife, Stephanie, Jamie and wife, Christy, Donavan, Jonathan, Tracy, Dalynn, Josh and wife, Carla, Katie, Allison and Blake; great-grandchildren, Kade, Ethan, Matthew, Austin, Bradley, Alysha, Taylor, Jordan and Madison.
In closing, we, his family, will always love and miss him, but we have blessed assurance through God’s Word that we will be with him again when He calls our name. If we believe the handwritten quote Phil kept, “Let us always remember that Jesus assures us of complete Victory,” we too will make Heaven our eternal home!!
