Richmond Clark Howard

RICHMOND CLARK HOWARD (84) died October 1, 2016 in Palm Springs, Calif. Born June 7, 1932 to James Richmond and Chloe Beatrice Clark Howard in Ripley, Tenn., he was a 25-year resident of Palm Springs and was honored with a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2011 for his storied career as an author. He married Judith Mary Stoneking of Las Vegas, Nev., in April 1979. She predeceased him on December 11, 2002. An award-winning author under the name Clark Howard, he was the author of 18 novels, five true crime books, two collections of short stories, and more than 200 short stories and articles. During his career, he won the Edgar Allan Poe Award, five Ellery Queen Magazine Readers Awards, a Derringer Award and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award or Lifetime Achievement in the mystery short story field. During the 1960s he wrote a monthly boxing column for The Ring boxing magazine under the name Rich Howard. TIME magazine said his writing had "the shrill, soul-chilling ring of truth," and noted anthologist Edward Gorman said that his short stories were "among the finest ever written in the crime-mystery genre." His work has been published throughout the world in numerous languages. During the Korean War, Howard served in the U.S. Marines and was awarded, among other decorations, the Korean Service Medal with two combat stars. He is survived by his sons, Steven, Mark and Colin; stepson, Todd Stoneking; and 10 grandchildren: Matthew Brian O'Doherty, Robert Clark Howard, Scott Ryan Howard, Kyle Steven Howard, Amanda Lauren Howard, Ashley Nicole Stoneking, Christopher Todd Stoneking, Ryan Clark Howard, Patrick Kyle Howard, and Diani Judith Mary Howard. Visitation will be held at Forest Lawn Mortuary at 69855 Ramon Road in Cathedral City on October 5 from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Cremation to follow and interment at Desert Memorial Park, along with the urn of Judith Mary Howard.