Eula Houlehan (1922-2008)
Eula K. Houlehan, 86, of Ashland, died Tuesday in Kings Daughters and Sons in Ashland.
She was born June 10, 1922, in Paintsville, the daughter of the late James N. and Lula Wheeler Kennard. She was the wife of the late Edward E. Houlehan.
Most recently, she attended South Ashland United Methodist Church and was an enthusiastic member of the Ashland Senior Center. She was a graduate of Ashland High School and Bowling Green Business College in Bowling Green, Ky. She was a 2001 recipient of the Poage Elementary School Volunteer of the Year award for her work as a reading volunteer.
Her married life began with her loving husband, Edward, in 1951, in what was then a very remote and wild Fairbanks, Alaska. Longing for family brought a return to Ashland in 1960, which has been Eulas home ever since.
She also was preceded in death by a brother, William Paul Kennard; and two sisters, Nettie K. Solter and Ruie K. Kelley.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas E. and Barbara Houlehan of Louisville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jayne H. and Terrence Lang of Wilmington, N.C., and Paula H. and Dean Qualls of Winter Haven, Fla.; a brother, James (J.C.) Kennard and his wife, Delores, of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Edward Houlehan and Cara Houlehan of Lexington, Thomas (T.R.) Lang and Brian Lang of Wilmington, N.C., Dustin (Courtney) Qualls of Albuquerque, N.M., Colleen (Donald) Purcell of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Darren (D.J.) Qualls of Pittsburgh, Pa.; stepgrandchildren Chris (Lori) Lang of Wilmington and Samantha Lang of Lexington; great-grandchildren Delaney Qualls of Albuquerque, N.M., and Liam Purcell of Daytona Beach; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to raising her three children, she was instrumental in the development and lives of Carol Kelley, her niece, and Greg Rice and Amy McGrosky Wells, all of whom she loved as her own children.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland by the Rev. Lance Campbell. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Friends may make contributions in her memory to the Ashland Senior Center.
Condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.
