Dennis L. Hough

Dennis Leon Hough, age 76, of Paris, Ohio, died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, at home, due to complications of Parkinson's disease. He was born July 1, 1935, in Latour, Mo., to the late Veula Margeurite (Gregg) and Henry Ray Hough.

He graduated from Holden High School, Holden, Mo., in 1953, and Central Missouri State University in 1957, with degrees in chemistry and mathematics. He attended graduate school in chemistry at Missouri University and Georgetown University, and worked as a chemist for the Food and Drug Administration for nine years. He then studied information science at American University in Washington, D.C., and joined the FDA computer center, which later merged with the National Institutes of Health computer center. He retired in 2000 as a systems engineer.

He is survived by his wife, Lea Ann (Sappington) Hough, whom he married in 1956; son, David Lee Hough (Cyndy Graves) of Morgantown, W.Va.; daughter, Denise Rene (Tom) Freeland of Minerva, Ohio; grandchildren, Conor and Duncan Freeland, and Emilee and Jacob Hough; sister, Dana Rae (Norman) Briscoe of Holden, Mo.; three nieces and six nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Hurley Gregg (Marjorie) Hough of Chilhowee, Mo.

Dennis was an associate member of Minerva United Methodist Church and a member of Damascus United Methodist Church, Damascus, Md., where he served as president of the Methodist Men, confirmation class leader, Sunday school teacher, and United Methodist Youth Fellowship co-leader. He planned and led the building of the "Living Christmas Tree" and also served as treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 445 and the Damascus High School Sports Association. He was a member of the Damascus Lions Club.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Damascus United Methodist Church in Damascus, MD.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, 1-2:30 p.m., at Cast Funeral Home, Holden, MO., followed by inurnment at Medford Cemetery, Medford, MO.

Donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, or to Alliance Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 885 S. Sawburg Road, Suite 106, Alliance, OH 44601.