John J. Houghton passed away at home after a brief illness on Friday, July 5, 2024, at the age of 100. Born in Wilmington to Elizabeth Hughes and John J. Houghton, Sr., he grew up in Browntown and graduated from St. Elizabeth Elementary School and Wilmington High School. Upon his graduation in 1942 he joined the US Navy during World War II. He served as a gunner's mate on the USS Susquehanna, stationed in the Pacific for the duration of the war. When he returned he rejoined the duPont Company at the Experimental Station as a laboratory technician and stayed for 43 years until his retirement. John was a lifelong Phillies fan who never missed a game in the good years or the bad.

John was predeceased by his wife Marie, his son John, his grandson Joel, his great granddaughter Hannah, and his son-in-law Thom Lynch. He is survived by his children Kathleen, Nancy Lynch, Michael and Leigh, and Ann Marie and Cliff Dempsey; his grandchildren, Sarah Houghton, Andrew and Amanda Houghton, Elizabeth and Brian Withers, Emily and Josh Seifert, Emma Lynch and Tristan Thacker, Allison Lynch, Mallory and Matt Mason, and Christopher and Allison Dempsey; and his great grandchildren, Benjamin, Adalynn, and Henry Houghton; Reagan Withers; Miles and Arlo Seifert; and Samantha Dempsey.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to The Ministry of Caring, Inc., 115 East 14th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.