Raymond C. Houghton, M.D.

Dr. Raymond C. Houghton, an esteemed New Bern physician and civic leader who retired to pursue his many passions in rural Carteret County, died Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at age 96.

Dr. Houghton delivered thousands of babies as one of a relatively small number of obstetrician/gynecologists practicing in the area at the time, often spending hours at the side of patients in labor and earning lifelong respect from his patients and their offspring.

He served as chair of the Craven County Board of Health for more than 15 years and was active in the New Bern Historical Society and the Historic District Commission, serving terms as chair of each, and the New Bern Preservation Foundation.

Dr. Houghton and the love of his life, Mary Jernigan Houghton, retired to Straits in 1984, living in a passive-solar house on Whitehurst Creek that he designed and constructed with the help of two good friends.

Mrs. Houghton died in January 2021, shortly after they marked their 72nd wedding anniversary.

Raymond Curtis Houghton was born April 19, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia, the second son of Viola Deans and Carl C.  Houghton., Jr.  He enrolled at Randolph-Macon College at age 17, but when he was old enough, he left college to enlist in the U.S. Navy at the tail end of World      War II.

After his discharge, he returned to Randolph-Macon, where he excelled in the classroom, sang with the glee club and played on the basketball team.

Early in his studies at Medical College of Virginia, he met and fell in love with registered nurse Mary Jernigan, who became his devoted partner through med school, another active-duty stint in the U.S. Navy – he was a medical officer on the USS Orion in Norfolk – his professional practice and retirement.

The Houghtons, with three small daughters, moved to New Bern in 1957, where he established his OB/GYN practice.  Mrs. Houghton assisted with patients and management of the office for many years.

In retirement, the Houghtons enjoyed life in the Core Sound area.  Dr. Houghton stayed quite active.  He was an avid fisherman, even obtaining a commercial-fisherman’s license.  He was an accomplished pianist, a talented watercolorist, an expert on early-American antiques, a superb gardener and raconteur.

Dr. Houghton is survived by his older brother, Aubrey, and his wife, Jean, in Richmond, Virginia.

He is survived also by three daughters and their husbands:  Barbara and Bill Handy of Naperville, Illinois; Kathryn and Frank Schreier of Beaufort, N.C.; Diane and Eli Blanchard of Morehead City; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The grandchildren are Jason Blanchard and wife Molly of Raleigh; Jill Blanchard Vinson and husband Shawn of Clayton; Mary Schreier of Cary; Nick Handy and wife Sarah of Charlotte; Eric Schreier and wife Beth Anne of Garner; Brent Handy and Emily Pitman of Tacoma, Washington.

The great-grandchildren are Morgan and Connor Blanchard of Raleigh; Josh, Kate and Jack Vinson of Clayton; and Owen and Parker Schreier of Garner; Russell Handy of Charlotte.

The family gratefully acknowledges Emma Grandy for her devoted, loving care during the Houghtons’ final years.

They also acknowledge and appreciate the care of Andrea Haning during a difficult period.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 27 at Christ Episcopal Church, 320 Pollock Street, in New Bern, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the memory of Dr. Houghton may be directed to:

*  Christ Episcopal Church, PO Box 1246, 320 Pollock Street, New Bern, NC 28563 www.christchurchnewbern.com/give/

*  Core Sound Waterfowl and Heritage Center, 1785 Island Road, PO Box 556, Harkers Island, NC 28531 www.coresound.com/ways-to-give

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.