George W. Houk 1953-2025

He was born March 11, 1953, in Salem, the son of the late G. Albertus and Dr. Irene Miller Houk. The family moved into their forever home, on the farm, the day they brought him home from the hospital.

George was a lifelong resident of Springfield Township, graduating from Springfield Local High School in 1971. After a short stint at YSU, George went to The Ohio State University where he graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education. While at OSU, George was part of the Ohio State Marching Band (TBDBITL) and marched with them in the Rose Bowl parade. Being involved with TBDBITL, also meant that George’s parents made many trips to campus. One such trip resulted in Dr. Irene experiencing the “Beat Michigan Lunch” at the union, a tradition that George lovingly carried on with his family, sour cherries and all.

George married his wife, the former Kathleen Shepherd, on June 15, 1974. After Kathy earned her Doctor of Dentistry degree from The Ohio State University in 1977, the couple returned home to the Houk family farm where George farmed alongside his father until his death in 1986, and Dr. Kathy practiced dentistry alongside her mother-in-law, Dr. Irene, at their office connected to the farmhouse. In addition to his daily farming responsibilities, George also worked as a crop insurance adjuster for Rain and Hail. For the past several years, he kept saying that this was “really it,” he was “going to retire,” but George loved the people and the relationships that he built too much to say goodbye.

George was truly one in a million. His passions and knowledge were limitless, and he never met a stranger. George built lifelong friendships through his involvement in so many organizations, including the Youngstown Photographic Society (Camera Club), photographing several Civil War reenactments and photographing events for EZ Street Productions. Along with photography, a huge part of George’s heart belonged to the Canfield Fair. A fair enthusiast, George grew up showing animals at the fair through 4-H and also served as the Junior Fair Board president. The Canfield Fair was in George’s blood, a love that he shared with his entire family. For the past 20 years, George served as the official “Canfield Fair photographer,” a job that filled his hours with running from event to event, but filled his heart even more. George truly loved people, and he loved capturing the special moments that unfolded each day at the fair.

Due to his passion for photography, local history and people, George was very instrumental in creating the Mahoning County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2022 through the Mahoning County Agricultural Society. George also enjoyed being a member of the Canfield Harness Horseman’s Association.

While George could almost always be found with a camera in his hand, he was involved in so many additional aspects of the Canfield Fair. For 30-plus years, he served as an adviser for the Springfield Booster Boys (the club that he was a member of growing up). Through 4-H, George mentored thousands of youths, and George firmly believed in having the kids take ownership and responsibility for their projects. He also was an advocate for the 4-Hers to learn how to properly conduct club meetings and how to speak to people. George also spent many hours judging for 4-H, at both the local and state levels. George wanted to share every last bit of knowledge that he had with anyone that was willing to listen, and he truly loved working with “the kids.”

George’s passion for service to others extended well beyond the Canfield Fair and 4-H. George was an integral part of the Springfield Ruritan’s Club, and you could often find him in the fry trailer, because he truly believed in the Ruritan’s mission and wanted to support as many students as possible with scholarship money to pursue their dreams. George spent many years serving on the Springfield Board of Education, another testament to his passion for service and supporting education.

Another of George’s passions was sports, although he always said he had to be “playing, coaching or photographing” the sport, because he couldn’t just sit and watch. He was often found on the sidelines of many Springfield Local or South Range sporting events, photographing for Magic Moments Photography. An excellent photographer, George was an even better coach. Affectionately known as “Coach Papa,” George spent many seasons coaching softball, baseball and soccer and he relished being the team “Papa.” He related so well to the kids and always wanted them to learn something and have fun. His motto was always, “You are either winning, or you are learning.”

George was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in New Springfield, until it closed in 2018. Losing the only church that you’ve ever known is not easy, but God led him and his family to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Leetonia. George and his family joined in 2021 and quickly became very active in the church, where he will always be remembered for photographing church events.

In his spare time, George loved to ski and fish. George rarely passed up an opportunity to go on a fishing adventure or hit the ski slopes and loved sharing these special interests with family and friends.

George also was a member of the Northeast Ohio Forestry Association and was a strong advocate for the forestry workdays and the youth Forestry Camp. Additionally, George enjoyed learning about shiitake mushrooms and built a small shiitake mushroom production. George also was an avid producer of maple syrup and loved sharing this passion of collecting and boiling sap with the family, a tradition that first began in the woods with his father. George also was a member of the Argus Masons and the Ohio Farm Bureau Association. George also loved blacksmithing and was a member of the Western Reserve Blacksmiths’ Association.

He will be forever missed by his wife of 51 years, Kathy, along with his daughters Annie Houk (James) Moore and Katie Houk (Aaron) Denney. His memory will always be cherished by his grandchildren, James and John Moore, “Papa’s special helpers,” Julianna Irene Moore and Chloe Kay Denney. Also left to cherish his memory are his sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Larry Helle; nieces Beth (Dan) Catlos and Miriam (Keven) Maughan; nephew Don (BethAnn) Helle; great-nieces and nephews, Abigail, Rebecca and Benjamin Catlos, Kendall and Ryan Maughan, and Courtney, Lindsay and Ashley Helle; and siblings-in-law John (Sandy) Shepherd, Robin (Steve) Pusztay and Frederick Shepherd, along with many cherished cousins and friends.

George was preceded in death by his parents and infant sister, Miriam Ada.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established the George Houk Agricultural and Natural Resources Scholarship Fund at Farmer’s National Bank. Additionally, the family is looking to establish a special award at the Canfield Fair in the grain department.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025, at The Barn at Firestone Farms, 1501 Eisenhower Blvd., Columbiana. Pastor Kari Lankford will be officiating the funeral service, at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Leetonia with calling hours from 10 to 11 a.m.

The family has entrusted Seederly-Mong and Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana, with the arrangements for their loved one.

Family and friends are invited to visit www.seederly-mongandbeck.com to sign the guestbook or send private condolences.

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