Richard Donald Houle, 84, of Belmont, N.H. died Dec. 25, 2021, following a brief illness.
Houle owned and operated several glass and mirror businesses, starting with Dick’s Auto Glass and then Central Glass. With his brothers, George and Hubert, Houle owned Pemi Glass Co. in Plymouth, N.H. After semi-retirement, he owned Belmont Glass Co., and fully retired in May 2021.
In an obituary in the Laconia Daily Sun: “Richard was one of the hardest workers ever and would still be working today if he could have. Anyone who knew Richard would tell you that he was one of a kind.”
Houle also owned an upholstery company, was an avid sled dog racer, and enjoyed traveling the world with his wife in their RV.
He is survived by his wife, Susan, sons, Donald Houle, Wayne Houle and his wife Raina, David Houle and his wife Karen; daughters, Nancy Houle, Linda Houle-Tavizon, Coleen Houle Poire, Judy (Houle) Shevlin and her husband Jim; stepchildren, Alan Ashey and his wife Rachelle and Leslie (Ashey) Newman and her husband Joe; brother Hubert Houle and his wife Donna; sister Vivian (Houle) Doherty and her husband Donald; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and his first wife, June Houle.
Houle was predeceased by an infant son Mark Houle; brothers, George Houle, Peter Houle, Norman Houle; sisters, Jackie (Houle) Landry, Gerri (Houle) Simoneau, Joyce (Houle) Berry and Judi (Houle) Swanson; grandsons, Michael Chamberlain and Stephen Tavizon; stepson, Eric Ashey; son-in-law, Wesley Tavizon; and in-laws, Alphonse Demers and Esther Demers.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Lakes Region Sled Dog Club, PO Box 341, Laconia, NH, 03247, or the New Hampshire Humane Society, 1305 Meredith Center Road, Laconia, NH, 03246, or the Laconia Elks Lodge #876 Education Scholarship, 17 Sugarbush Lane, Laconia, NH, 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, is assisting with arrangements. To view an online memorial, go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.
