Eleanor R. Howard

HODGDON - Eleanor R. Howard, 95, died Jan. 11, 2012, at a New Jersey health care facility. She was born Feb. 20, 1916, in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of Lynwood and Jennie (Brown) Ross. Eleanor graduated from Colby College in 1937 and received her Master of Science degree in biology from the University of Iowa. Eleanor founded the biology department at Ricker Classical Institute and Ricker College, where she taught for several years until her marriage to Ralph Howard, in 1942. In 1958 she returned to teach biology at Ricker College, receiving an honorary doctorate from that institution in 1974. She was a longtime member of Court Street Baptist Church and sang in Houlton Community Chorus. In addition to her scientific interests, which often led her to dissect frogs and fetal pigs on the kitchen table in preparation for her biology classes at Ricker College, Eleanor loved music, cooking and every kind of handwork. A good pianist, she shared her musical interests with her son, Woody; and her brother, James Ross. In high summer she thought nothing of canning 20 quarts of green and yellow beans in one afternoon or making 20 jars of strawberry jam from the tiny wild strawberries that grew on the hill behind the family farmhouse. By autumn, her cellar would always be lined with hundreds of jars of canned vegetables, jams and pickles. During the potato harvest Eleanor was famous for the homemade bread, apple pie and beef stew she would bring to the fields for lunch. In her final decades she spent much of her time creating beautiful hooked rugs and needlepoint designs and making Christmas tree ornaments and homemade candy for members of her extended family. Eleanor is survived by her son, Elwood James "Woody" Howard of New York City; two daughters, Barbara Traister of North Hills, Pa., and Jean Howard of New York City; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Howard, with whom she shared a marriage of 56 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Interment will be at Hodgdon Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Eleanor's memory to Ricker College Scholarship Fund, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at www.dunnfuneral.com.