Joe Houghtelin

Joe Houghtelin, 94, of Terre Haute, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Harrison’s Crossing Health Campus, surrounded by family. He was born on May 3, 1931, in Terre Haute, to John W. and Beulah M. Pomier Houghtelin.

Joe is survived by his children, Ann Brighton (John) and Scott Houghtelin (Lynn); dear, close friend, Joyce York; grandchildren, Alan Houghtelin (Yuzu), Alicia Welter (James), Shelby Scott (Jake), and William Brighton; and great grandchildren, Jaxson Scott, Lynleigh Scott, Sydney Scott, and Everly Welter. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Judy C. Maxwell.

Joe was a 1949 graduate of State High School. He also graduated from Indiana State University in 1957 after serving four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Joe had a passion for teaching and coaching. He worked as a teacher and coach for Clinton High School; was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Sarah Scott Middle School; coached at South Vigo High School; coached at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; and was the University Supervisor of practice teachers at Indiana State University.

His honors were many, including being a member of the winningest season record of State High School basketball team and also the ISU Freshman team. He was a member of the Scott AFB basketball team and the Nagoya, Japan team that participated in the Air Force World-Wide basketball tournaments in Nebraska and Florida in two of the four years that he served.

Joe coached many championship teams and sectional winners in basketball. He also coached sectional, regional, and semi-state championships in cross-country. Joe was nominated for High School Coach of the Year in cross country and was given one of the very few participants of the Dick Martin Coaching Awards in 2000.

A Celebration of Life will be soon be scheduled at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, please check back for details. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Loyal Veterans Battalion or Reach Veterans Services.