Houston Meriwether

Houston Fritz Meriwether Jr., age 83, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on April 20, 1942, in Mobile, Alabama, Houston was the eldest of three children to Fritz and Dorothy Meriwether. A lifelong lover of golf - playing it and watching it - he even started the golf team at his high school, mostly as a clever way to get out of class. While that may have been his initial goal, he never stopped finding joy in the game.

Houston was a husband, father, grandfather, friend, and the official family photographer – whether you were ready for a picture or not. Over the years, he captured thousands of moments, from perfectly posed portraits to candid chaos, building a visual legacy of love and life.

Houston met the love of his life, Laurel (Laurie), in 1962 and were married just 12 weeks later, proving that when you know, you know - and that some risks are worth taking. Their 62-year marriage was filled with laughter, loyalty, adventure and a shared sense of fun. As he always said, “I married her because she was so fun.” And she still is.

After meeting a Navy recruiter while working as a caddy - fate really does tee up some interesting paths - Houston enlisted and served working on ship computer systems. That experience launched his career in information systems with Rockwell International, where he combined technical skill with a true appreciation for the finer things in life... especially the meals on business trips.

Beyond his career, Houston found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He cherished the annual family road trips to Minnesota and Alabama, where his children formed lifelong bonds—crammed shoulder to shoulder in the backseat, unplugged from electronics, and immersed in each other’s company.  A true Weber grill master, his legendary steaks will always conjure memories of summer evenings. Houston also had a passion for pop music, from tuning into Casey Kasem’s Top 40 to enjoying the performances on America’s Got Talent in recent years.  A lifelong sports fan, he enjoyed watching just about any game—though the Pirates’ struggles in the ’80s tested even his patience.  His fascination with technology spanned decades—starting with one of the first IBM home PCs and continuing through to his well-loved Apple Watch and iPhone.

In 2001, after the birth of his first grandchild, Houston and Laurie packed up their life in Kentucky and moved up to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. They immediately fell into their favorite roles as Gramps and Granny. In the years following, they spent countless hours babysitting their grandchildren. Houston described being a grandfather as the best thing that ever happened to him.  They were soon adopted as the neighborhood grandparents. Houston drove endless carpools to and from soccer practices, swim meets, band practices, and after-school activities. He found immense joy in teaching his three granddaughters how to drive, meandering around the backroads of Nazareth. His grandsons loved the Cracker Barrel dates and often requested to go to Pennsylvania to come visit Gramps.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie; his children, Pam (Anthony), Steve (CaroLyn), and Andy (Lia); and five grandchildren - Kelsey, Natalie, Amy, Rolly, and Charlie - who loved him deeply as their “Gramps”; the “Monday church friends” and countless other friends and family. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his beloved son, Danny.

A celebration of Houston’s life will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 210 E. Northampton St, Bath, PA 18014, Interment will follow the Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Church Cemetery, followed by an open house at his home beginning at 1pm.  A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in the GEORGE G. BENSING FUNERAL HOME, INC. 2165 Community Drive - Bath, PA 18014. Online expressions of sympathy can be recorded at: www.bensingfuneralhome.net

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to the Food for the Poor, take a photo with someone you love, and give them a hug that lasts a little longer than usual. It’s what Houston would’ve done - probably after telling you to “smile just one more time for the camera”.