Richard "Rick" Wayne Houston

Richard “Rick” Wayne Houston passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Rick was born in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., on November 7, 1948, to the late Richard “Dick” and Barbara “Barbie” Houston. The family relocated after his father accepted a job in radio in Texas; Rick graduated from Richardson High School in 1966.

Four years later, he graduated from Texas Technical University in Lubbock with a B.A. in Theater. Rick was a percussionist in TTU's marching band and started selling his short fiction to various magazines. He remained in Lubbock after graduation and was hired by a dinner theater where he built sets and picked up faded Hollywood stars at the airport to headline the productions.

Meanwhile, in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Donna Coldwell and her friend Lorrie had founded a writers' group and were looking for talented folks to join them. Fortuitously, in the 1970s, Rick and his partner Ruth had moved to an apartment in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Rick saw the notice for the writers' group in the local newspaper and began to attend. He and Donna eventually started spending time together. The quality of Rick's writing was just what the BWW needed; he also loved Broadway musical theater (as did Donna) even though he'd never been so far East before!

Rick and Donna married in 1988, two years later, their daughter Olivia was born. She inherited her Dad's beautiful blue eyes as well as both parents' love of language and musical theater. Richard Houston and Donna Coldwell moved with Olivia to Merion Station, not far from St. Joseph's University where Donna taught composition. Olivia attended Lower Merion Public schools and later earned an Associate’s Degree in English Language and Literature while living in Florida. Like her parents she loves books and film. A lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, Rick loved books and music, something all three of us had in common. Rick worked in printing, publishing, and several small companies in Eastern Montgomery County using huge presses.

Before his becoming a terrible victim of Alzheimer's, which left him physically, mentally, and emotionally bereft, Rick was passionately involved with our small family, racing, reading, and theater.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Bacchi Funeral Home & Crematory, 805 DeKalb Street, Bridgeport, PA 19405. Words of Remembrance and a time for sharing will begin at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be private.

Arrangements are by The Bacchi Funeral Home, Bridgeport, PA.

Condolences and memories may be posted at www.bacchifh.com.