Terry Delbert Houtz

After a lengthy illness, Terry D. Houtz, 81, of Darlington, Maryland, passed away on April 9, 2023, at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 58 years, Karen Dancy Houtz; cherished daughters Amy Houtz-Martin and Kate Elie; devoted sons-in-law Oswald Elie and Chester Martin; beloved grandsons Tristan Elie, Aaron Elie, and Justin Elie; loving brothers-in-law Charles M. Dancy and Kirk L. Dancy; dear niece and nephews Lindsay Dancy Albanese, Blair Dancy and Alec Dancy; cousin Michael Dypski and loving friends Calvin and Fran Seitz.

Terry was born July 16, 1941, in Tower City, Pennsylvania to the late Dorothy Camp and Delbert Charles Houtz. During World War II, the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland where Terry attended Baltimore City schools, graduating from Baltimore City College in 1959. As a teenager he often worked with his father, who was a partner in Herb and Del’s Auto sales, a well-known business on Belair Road in Baltimore during the 1950’s. He helped move cars to various locations including the famous Manheim Auto Auction in Manheim, Pennsylvania.

After high school he attended the University of Maryland in College Park and then enlisted in a medical unit of the U.S. Air Force Reserve in Baltimore. During this time, he was trained in all clinical and laboratory skills. His first laboratory job was at Sinai Hospital working under the auspices of Dr. John Rebeck. In 1963, he joined the University of Maryland School of Surgery as a Research Scientist III, working under the direction of the late Dr. Robert Ollodart. At that time, he met a colleague, Calvin Seitz, who along with his wife Fran, became cherished lifelong friends. The team, under Dr. Ollodart’s direction, supervised the Southeastern Organ Procurement Tissue Typing and Kidney Profusion Laboratory. Their duties included surgical research in microbiology and immunology and production of anti-lymphocyte globulin and skin bank fluids.

In 1964, Terry married Karen Dancy, his high school sweetheart who he had met on a blind date in 1958. In 1968 the couple moved from Baltimore to Forest Hill where they had built their first home.

In 1974, Terry joined the non-profit Baltimore RH Typing Laboratory in Baltimore. He became manager of the HLA laboratory, one of the 3 blood typing units at that time. He was to remain here for the next 30 years. 1974 was also an exciting time as Terry and Karen welcomed their first daughter, Amy, and the next year, daughter Kate arrived to complete their family.

As the Baltimore RH Lab grew during the next decade, it also incorporated emerging DNA technology. Terry became manager of the new genetic testing department. The lab also outgrew its location and moved to West Franklin Street in Baltimore. As a supervisor, Terry attended conferences across the U.S. and in Europe. In 1978 he qualified as an expert witness in Maryland in cases in which the RH lab had done blood tests for paternity. Paternity testing with the new DNA technology became an important part of the lab’s work. From 1979 through1999, Terry appeared as an expert witness in Baltimore City, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington State, West Virginia, New York, and Maine.

Under the leadership of the medical director, Dr. Robert Wenk, Terry, and other colleagues collaborated to publish scientific research in publications such as CLINICAL GENETICA, FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERN, MARYLAND STATE MEDICAL JOURNAL, TRANSFUSION, and THE AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY. Other papers were presented at the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the International Society of Hematology in Paris, France, Montreal, Canada and the International Congress of the Society for Forensic Haemogentice in Munich, Germany and in Copenhagen, Denmark.

During the 1990’s, part of Terry’s responsibilities was to monitor and create advertising and marketing strategies for the lab to promote private DNA testing. Terry was largely responsible for the most well-known, the “Who’s the Daddy” billboard and ad which appeared in Baltimore. The ad featured a pregnant Mona Lisa and attracted national attention, appearing as a feature in the Baltimore Sun and on the front page of USA Today.

In 1991, Terry and his family moved to their present home in Darlington, Maryland. In 2005, he officially retired from his full-time position at what was then known as BRT Laboratory but remained as a consultant working 1 day per week.

After fully retiring, Terry turned his long-time interest in antiques into a business. As newlyweds, he and his wife, Karen, began collecting antiques to fill their apartment and then their first home. He became hooked on the adventure of a find. He also enjoyed using his lunch break with buddy Calvin Seitz, searching the antique shops and junk stores close to the University of Maryland to find treasures.

In 1967 he partnered with Ed Sansom to open Harford House Antiques in Benson, Maryland. In 1977 he and the late Rodney Fields maintained another antique shop near Benson until the property was sold.

Terry and Karen enjoyed doing local antique shows in the area such as the Darlington Apple Festival and Herb Festival. After retirement Terry and Karen became dealers at the old Spenceola Antique Center in Bel Air, MD, Shrewsbury Antique Center in Shrewsbury, PA and Seneca Cannery in Havre de Grace, MD. Terry and Karen loved their buying trips throughout Maryland, New England, Ohio, and trips south. Auctions and flea markets were weekly events. Karen still maintains booths in Shrewsbury and Seneca Cannery.

Throughout his life, Terry enjoyed “hands on” projects. He was a self-taught cabinet maker creating many pieces of furniture for his home from cherry and walnut trees he had harvested from trees on his property. He also enjoyed carving animals and birds for his children and family members.

Even though his final years were marred by serious medical problems, Terry was still able to enjoy the beauty of the Deer Creek Valley, love of his wife, daughters and grandsons, family get-togethers and visits with old friends and neighbors. We will deeply miss his smile, great sense of humor and most of all his love and companionship, but we will cherish the memories of a life well-lived.

At the request of the family, services and burial will be private. Donations in Terry’s memory may be made to the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company or Gilchrist Hospice, Towson, Maryland.