Roger L. Howard

Roger Lee Howard, 76, of Guysville died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2025, as the result of a lawn tractor accident near his home.  Born June 26, 1949 in Athens, he was the son of the late Ambrose Howard and Zelda VanMeter Howard.

A 1967 graduate of Alexander High School, he was co-owner of the Spanish Maine Truck Stop on Route 50.  He was also involved in farming, delivered Pepsi products, sold insurance and was an employee of Lodi Township.  He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed woodworking, gardening and hunting.  He attended the former St. John’s Catholic Church and was a member of the American Legion Post 21, Savannah Lodge 466 F&AM, Shade Community Center and the Shade Senior Center.  Roger was loved by everyone he met and had a gift for conversation.

Roger served in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1975 to 2002.  He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.  He loved his country deeply and was honored to take part in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where he visited the memorials dedicated to veterans like himself.

Roger is survived by his wife of 53 years, Vicki Baker Howard; his daughter, Hayley (Troy) Johnson of Gallipolis; his son, Roger L. Howard II of Guysville; three grandchildren, Abigail Johnson, Brooke (Kameron) Daniels and Trent Johnson; a sister, Janet Bell of Guysville; a brother, Richard (Nancy) Howard of Guysville; two brothers-in- law, Dick (Beth) Baker of London and Greg Meeks of Shade; also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Beside his parents, Ambrose and Zelda he is preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Virgil & Donna Baker; a sister Becky Meeks; a brother-in-law, Kenney Bell; a niece, Jill Lallier; and a nephew, Bryan Bell.  

Funeral service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens with Pastor John O’Brien officiating.  Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Guysville.  Friends may call Tuesday 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.  Savannah Lodge 466 will conduct Masonic services Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Military Rites will be conducted by VFW Post 9893 and American Legion Post 21 Honor Guard at the cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Cemetery Fund, c/o Krissy Barr, 2435 Dutch Ridge Rd., Guysville, OH 45735. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.