Robb Fitch Howell

TROY - Robb Fitch Howell, 58, of Troy, Ohio, and Walloon Lake, Mich., died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, and son, Robb, and girlfriend, Julie Conard, of Troy; daughter, Jillian, and son-in-law to be, Keenan Hughes, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; brothers, Busser Howell of New York, N.Y., and David Howell of Singapore; sister, Lucia Howell, of Osprey, Fla., and sister and brother-in-law, Deborah and Johannes Kurd, of Nokomis, Fla., and Walloon Lake, Mich.
He was born in Troy in 1954 to William and Marcia (Hobart) Howell, and graduated from Mercersberg Academy, Mercersberg, Pa., and Ohio State University. After receiving his B.S., he joined Hobart Brothers Co., initially overseeing the establishment of Saudi Hobart Welding Industries in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and later working at the company headquarters in Troy, where he was a member of the board of directors; his career in the welding industry at Hobart Brothers and other companies spanned more than 20 years. Most recently, he was the owner and president of MCD Plastics and Manufacturing in Piqua, Ohio. In 2008, he was named a director of the board of the American Welding Society Foundation. Robb was a dedicated civil servant of the Troy community, and served on the boards of directors and/or trustees of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, the Community Improvement Corporation of Troy, Friends of Hayner, The Future Begins Today, Overfield Tavern Museum, Summit Insurance Company, Troy D.A.R.E., the Troy Development Council and the U.S. Bank Regional Advisory Board.
Additionally, he served as chairman of the Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and of the 1998 Capital Campaign for the Miami County YMCA.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Troy, with the Rev. Aaron Gerlach officiating.
A private burial ceremony for close family will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Troy.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of Miami County or the charity of one's choice. Arrangements are being handled by the Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.fisher-cheneyfuneralhome.com.