Doris Joanne Houdesheldt's Obituary
Doris Joanne (Noack) Houdesheldt, (Mother/Oma/sister), departed her earthly bonds to join her husband, Robert (Dad/Opa) on March 5, 2023. Born on March 9, 1933 to Arno and Mildred Noack in Massachusetts, Doris was a farmer’s daughter growing up in the mill town of Westbrook, Maine on her parents’ farm. After graduating Westbrook High School she attended Fisher Junior College where she aspired to be a radio news broadcaster. In 1953, after graduating from Fisher Junior College, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Federal Government. There she met the love of her life, Robert J. Houdesheldt. They married and started a family, she continued to work and travel to overseas posts with her husband and family.
Mom was a trailblazer. She pursued higher education, graduating with a B.S., Magna Cum Laude, in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1976. Starting out government service as a GS-1, she retired after a distinguished career in the Federal Government as a personnel officer, achieving the rank of GS – 14. Her pursuits outside of her career were just as important: serving as an officer in the College Park Girls Club organization, serving as member of the Prince George’s County Personnel Board; becoming active in the College Park chapter of the BPW (Business and Professional Women), rising through the chapter ranks to President, while also involved in the Maryland and National BPW Federations. She served as President of the MD/BPW Federation from 1986-1987 and was a lifelong member. Moving from Maryland to Culpeper in 1992 to be close to her grandchildren, she continued her work with the Culpeper chapter of BPW as well as the St. Petersburg, FL BPW chapter.
She was an avid bridge player, attaining the rank of Bronze Life Master in 2002. She enjoyed singing in the choir at Precious Blood Catholic Church; was a lifelong baseball fan of the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays, where she was a season ticket holder and ushered at Rays baseball games. Traveling was a passion in her retirement years: whether going to reunions with Robert; trips with BPW; taking her grandchildren on week long adventures or her granddaughter to Germany; going on a cruise with her son and his family; or hosting family and friends at their home in Florida and taking day trips around Florida, she enjoyed her travels and had many photo albums full of her adventures.
She is survived by her children, Bruce and Shelley (Rupp) Houdesheldt, Marcia (Houdesheldt) and David Maitland; grandchildren David Maitland, Jr., Charlotte A. Maitland, and Harrison C. Houdesheldt; brothers Fred and Steve Noack, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Receiving of friends will be at Found and Sons, Culpeper, VA on April 27, 2023 from 6 – 8 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:00 AM on April 28, 2023 at Precious Blood Catholic Church, Culpeper, VA with internment in Culpeper National Cemetery(new section) immediately following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations made to: Freda Kratochvil Music Scholarship fund at Precious Blood Catholic Church; BPWF/MD (send checks to CFO Sharon Jacob, 12808 Quail Lane, Brandywine, MD 20613; note "Foundation scholarship" on the memo line); ProMedica Hospice Memorial Fund, or a charity of your choice.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available at www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
What’s your fondest memory of Doris?
What’s a lesson you learned from Doris?
Share a story where Doris' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Doris you’ll never forget.
How did Doris make you smile?
