Mr. Carroll Eugene Housdan Obituary (1938

Carroll "Gene" Housdan, 78, of Russellville passed away, Friday, December 2, 2016 at his home in Russellville. The son of Harl and Pearl Sullivan Housdan, he was born August 3, 1938 in Portia and attended Black Rock High School. Gene and Patsy Davis were married on July 29, 1956 in Sedgewick. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955 and retired in 1975 with the rank of Gunners Mate Chief Petty Officer. Chief Housdan's specialty was 0891-ASROC ("Anti-Submarine ROCket"), an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. After training on the ASROC system, he served on numerous destroyers including the USS Helena, USS Sutherland, USS Scoffield, the USS Ranger, and the USS Boston. Gene completed 5 tours in Vietnam, and was a highly decorated sailor, having received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct medal with four devices, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation [RVN Gallantry Cross]. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #692, KIWANIS, River Valley Squares and a was past President of the Arkansas State Squares Dance Federation. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Russellville where he previously served as a deacon. Gene enjoyed the outdoors, speed reading, and was known to be charitable, compassionate, faithful and stern and was a loving husband and father to four children. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harl Housdan, Jr.; sister, Brenda Carter, and a great granddaughter, Ashdyn Powell. Survivors include his wife Pasty Davis Housdan; two daughters, Tamera Housdan of North Little Rock; Sonja Lawson of Alexander; two sons Joel Housdan (Deborah) of Scranton; Philip Housdan (Rhonda) of Ozark; six grandchildren; brother, C.D. Housdan of Mobile, AL; two sisters, Wilma Barber (Billy) of Hoxie, Joyce Brunson of Houston, TX Funeral Service will be held at 10:00AM, Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Second Baptist Church. Bro. Billy Dawson and Bro. Jonathan Whitlock will officiate. Burial with full military honors will be at 4:00 PM at Lawrence Memorial Park in Walnut Ridge, AR by Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, on Monday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203. Internet obituary and on-line guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com.