Charles C. Houghton

Charles C. Houghton, 81, of 5720 State Route 227, Trumansburg, NY, died peacefully at home on September 20, 2012, surrounded by loving family.

Calling hours will be on Sunday, September 23, 2012 from 2:00-4:00PM at Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South Street in Trumansburg.

He was born on September 10, 1931, in Ithaca, NY, in the midst of a blazing heat wave that set high temperature records that stand to this day. He was the son of the late Charles E. and Kathleen Kimple Houghton of Ithaca.

From his earliest years, Chuck was a farmer-in-the-making, eagerly following his father into the fields of the family farm in the Town of Ulysses. His life in farming spanned the decades from horse-drawn plows to modern machinery equipped with GPS and with enclosed cabs complete with air conditioning and surround-sound stereo. Chuck attended the one-room Macktown school in Ulysses, and went on to graduate from Ithaca High School in 1950 and from the two-year College of Agriculture program at Cornell University in 1952. At both Ithaca High and Cornell he excelled in track, competing in both cross country and the mile.

Chuck was a progressive and innovative farmer, and a careful steward of the land, who kept up-to-date on the momentous changes in agriculture in the years following World War II. Using his father's farm as a base, he developed Houghton's Poultry Farm, which supplied fresh eggs to restaurants, diners, and grocery stores throughout the region for over 50 years, as well as developing an extensive crop business.

Cornell students in classes in Poultry and Farm Management benefitted from his experience and expertise. They came to the farm for tours and discussions with Chuck for many years.

He will be greatly missed by his family who survive him and who were always at the center of his life: wife Anne Filley; daughters Deborah J Houghton (Peter Close) of Vermont and Julia Houghton-Duffee (Tom) of Trumansburg, NY; grandchildren Ashley Holden and Kyle Holden of Virginia. Also surviving are siblings Nancy Searjeant (Robert) of Rochchester, NY; Jean Houghton of Ithaca; and Peter K. Houghton (Doris) of Waterloo, NY, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He will also be missed by his farming partners at Philip Switzer Farm, and by his many loyal customers whose patronage and friendship he enjoyed over so many years.

Chuck took up trail riding with Anne's encouragement, and leaves behind many dear friends in the Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association. He became an award-winning horseback rider, especially on the 100-mile rides, and spent some of the happiest years of his life on the trails of New England with his fellow riders.

Finally, we cannot leave out the many barn cats Chuck rescued over the years and took home to safety, who will miss him keenly. Their presence and companionship were calming and comforting to him in his last illness.

The family also at this time wishes to thank Chuck's caregivers, whose friendship and care made him both safe and comfortable at home these last months: Stacy Wright, Marlene Hamilton, Sheila Levey, and Kelly Jones. They have our sincere gratitude.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Chuck's memory to a charity of your choosing.