Dr. James Lee Houston

Dr. James Lee Houston of Murrysville PA, formerly of Lower Burrell PA, passed away at Allegheny General Hospital on Friday, March 4 at age 85 of complications of heart disease. Dr. Houston was born on March 10, 1936 in Greensburg of Joseph Henry Houston and Theresa Krysevig Houston. He attended Saint Vincent College and medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. There he met the love of his life, Dr. Marie Smith Houston, who became a Pitt professor of nursing. They married in 1960 and enjoyed 61 years of happy marriage. They raised three children and enjoyed trips around the U.S. and the world and spending time at their second home at Hidden Valley. Dr. Houston practiced obstetrics and gynecology in New Kensington PA in private practice, and at Citizens General and Allegheny Valley hospitals before retiring in 1999. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1965. He loved building and collecting model trains, spending time with his dogs, traveling, cooking gourmet meals, and tending his garden, and spent many happy summer vacations with his family at Seven Mile Island on the Jersey Shore. A lifelong reader and learner, he volunteered at the Buhl Science Center train display, and later in life earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Pitt, simply for the joy of learning. He is survived by his wife Marie Smith Houston; his children Peter James Houston and wife Jennifer, John Paul Houston, and Anne Marie Houston; and grandchildren Elizabeth Houston Magurno and husband James Francis, Caroline Houston, John Houston, and Emily Houston; and former daughters in law Laureen Houston and Mary Ellen Chisholm. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church at 315 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, on Thursday, March 10 at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley or Westmoreland County Food Bank. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)

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