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Richard Howard Obituary
09/04/1942 - 01/17/2025
Dick left this world surrounded by those he loved. Born in Binghamton, New York to Dr. James Henry Howard and Lunetta Arlene Bouton Howard, he grew up in Endwell, New York. He was academically and musically skilled, playing the trombone in Endwell Junior High and Union Endicott High School.
He attended Bucknell University, participated in the Bucknell Symphonic and Marching Band, and was the cadet Director of ROTC military band. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He attended Purdue for a masters in chemical engineering. He worked at GE briefly before being commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the US Army Chemical Corp 1966-1968 and was stationed at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.
After the army he worked at Exxon for thirty-one years. He was in Exxon Research and Development at Schenectady, NY and Florham Park, NJ, and Exxon Chemical Company from 1972 to 1999.
He was a member of Space City Ski Club, Texas Ski Council, and Texas Association of Single Sailors. He married Sue Shirley-Howard in November 1993 and they created an adventurous life forming a company called Impulsive Travelers. They took friends skiing and biking in Europe over twenty-five years. He was a Presbyterian his whole life; at St. Philip Presbyterian (SPPC) he was an elder and served on numerous committees. He was on the board of directors of the Houston International Seafarer Ministry since 2010.
Donations in his honor may be made to St. Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston International Seafarers, The Richard H. Howard Scholarship at Bucknell University or a university of your choice.
He is survived in death by his wife Sue Ann Lebel Shirley-Howard, his stepson C. William Shirley and Bill's partner Mary Diane Longshore, his brother Dr. David James Howard, his nieces Christine Marie H. Minton and Andrea Lauren H. Shields plus multiple nieces and nephews around the country.
A memorial service will be held at SPPC on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 11:00a.m. Online memorial service may be viewed at saintphilip.net
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Howard
4 Entries
Steve Budde & Deborah Reichert
February 8, 2025
We've known Dick since late 1980's from our sailing club, TASS. He was such an adventurous traveler, and we did get to do a trip with him skiing in France (and skied to Switzerland for lunch and back one day!). Would have liked to been able to do more travel with him and Sue. He was such an active and involved person - didn't know half of it until we read the remembrance obituary. We will miss him, but his soul and spirit will live on.
Deborah Reichert & Steve Budde
Daniela Iraheta Aldana
February 7, 2025
The Aldanas send our deepest condolences. We are eternally grateful to have met Dick and experience his kindness and wonderful soul. We will carry him in our hearts forever.
Ron and Anne Retzler
February 2, 2025
Although briefly, we learned that Dick was caring about all he did and interested in the people around him. His smile and jovial manner will be in our memories
Paul and Claudia Medlock.
February 2, 2025
So sorry to hear of Dick´s passing. He was a friends and sailing buddy. Our condolences to Sue and his family. Paul and Claudia Medlock
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