Darlene Roma Houk

Darlene Roma Houk, 95, of Bartlesville, joined her beloved husband Darrell Duane Houk in heaven on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Darlene was born May 3, 1929, in Iola, Kansas, to Albert Benjamin “Dutch” and Roma Bonnie “Olive” (Colwell) DeMeritt. They lived on a farm south of Moran, Kansas, and Darlene attended Prairie Rose School. They moved to the Lydia Park farm in 1938 and she attended Odense school through the 8th grade. The family was active at Friends Home Lutheran Church near their home. The church is still vibrant and Darlene was able to attend a milestone anniversary there recently. Darlene graduated from Humboldt High School in 1946. She then attended Pittsburg State and at the age of 19 received an emergency teaching certificate and began teaching at Fairview School, a one-room schoolhouse near her home. Her younger sister was one of her students. She taught for several years, gaining college credits at Kansas State University during the summer breaks for several years. Darlene attended The University of Kansas in Lawrence after saving the money for her tuition. She received a Phi Beta Kappa key while attaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Education and was active in sorority. From 1952-1954 Darlene taught second grade at New York School in Lawrence, Kansas. Darlene married Darrell Duane Houk on October 30, 1954, and the couple enjoyed 62 years of loving marriage. Her cousin Martha DeMeritt Parker is the one who introduced them. Darlene and Darrell established their home in Lawrence, Kansas. Her husband began working for Phillips Petroleum Company and they began being transferred from city to city. They moved to Wichita and then to Independence, Kansas. There she enjoyed being an officer of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, making new friends and working on community improvement projects. While raising her three girls in Independence, Darlene was involved in Girl Scouts and the Dorcas Society of Zion Lutheran Church. The family was transferred to Bartlesville in 1965 and then to Houston, Texas, a year later. In Houston, Darlene became involved with activities at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Campfire Girls, and sold Avon door-to-door. Upon returning to Bartlesville in 1971, Darlene began a career in retail, selling cosmetics (mainly Estee Lauder) for Vandevers and then for Dillard’s until her retirement in May 1991. During her career, she received Sales Pacesetter Award at Dillard’s in 1987, 1989, and 1990. She was active in NAMI, Pilot Club of Dewey (1986 - 2018; President 1992-93; Director through 2018), bridge and bowling. She was a frequent volunteer for Bartlesville OK Mozart and outreach activities with Redeemer Lutheran Church. Darlene found her niche with the Red Hat Society, an organization committed to dressing up in red and purple and wearing sparkling bling while actively creating fun. Darlene enjoyed traveling. In 1996, she convinced her husband to travel around the United States, stopping and visiting with friends and family all along the way. She enjoyed traveling with the church group, family, and close friends. She loved getting together with family and was a frequent planner and organizer of family reunions, enjoying returns to Kansas. Darlene enjoyed having fun. She had the knack of finding something in common with every person she met. She loved parties, especially her own birthday celebrations. She always made time to give back to her community. She was a big “people-person” and enjoyed visiting with others. Darlene is survived by her three daughters, Darci Shelton and husband Craig, Marta Houk, and Roma Waidner and husband John; a sister, DeAnna Gerber; four grandchildren, Jeremy Shelton and wife Nicole, Jason Shelton and wife Lesley, Nicole Bookhout and husband Court, and Matthew Waidner and wife Veronica; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Duane Houk; her parents, Albert and Roma DeMeritt; and a brother, Dennis DeMeritt. Darlene’s family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 4201 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006,918-333-7665. Come and go visitation will also be held from noon to 5 p.m. that same day. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2024, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bartlesville with the Reverend William Shupe officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville. Services are under the direction of Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Darlene Roma Houk

May 3, 1929 - November 13, 2024