When she was National President in 1979-1980, membership reached an all-time high of nearly 643,000 and more than 125 new Auxiliaries were instituted. During her decades of service, Houtz held


many positions including multiple terms as Auxiliary President, Department President from 1963-1964, President of the Western Conference and National Director for the VFW National Home for Children Program. She held national positions including Banner Bearer, Assistant Guard, National District Council Member and National Chairman for the Western Conference on the Membership, Americanism and Community Activities programs. Houtz was active in the church of Jesus


Remembering Past National President Vona Houtz 1927-2015


“Soar, Reach Out, Serve America”


P


ast National President Vona Houtz, who dedicated 64 years of her life to the Auxiliary and always


urged fellow members to promote patriotism and do more for America, has passed away. She leaves behind a family legacy of Auxiliary service. Her daughter, DeeAnn Benson, served as Utah Department President while Houtz served her term as National President, and her granddaughter, Elizabeth “Spydr” Benson, also later served as Department President in 2010. Houtz, whose theme was “Soar,


Reach Out, Serve America,” referred to Auxiliary sisters as “soar-ers and doers for America.” T ey were all an integral part of her mission of a “gigantic reaching out” that would encompass so much – a year of unprecedented progress for the Auxiliary.


Christ of Latter Day Saints, and she was a prominent community volunteer, working with organizations including the Boy Scouts of America and on local charity drives. As a past Business and Professional Women’s Club Local and District President, she received the group’s Woman of the Year Award. For years, Houtz


also volunteered her seamstress skills to make life more comfortable for veterans and cancer patients. She made one-of-a-kind, hand-embroidered lap robes for VA hospital patients and VA nursing home residents. During her own cancer treatment,


discovering that most pillows were too large to prop up her arm comfortably, Houtz began making small pillows of her own. Over time she made hundreds of these and donated them to cancer treatments centers. She was proud of her “Serve America”


family. Houtz’ brother served as a corporal, United States Army Airborne, in Korea, two of her three sons served in the armed forces and her son, Eric, is a VFW Life Member. She had seven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.


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