Bruce Harold Howren

Bruce Harold Howren

POLAND -- A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Covenant Church for Bruce Harold Howren, 88, of Poland, formerly of Boardman, who died Monday evening at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Mr. Howren was born July 31, 1918 in Struthers, a son of Bruce and Frances Edens Howren. A rich and rewarding life would follow.

He graduated from Struthers High School in 1936, and worked at the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Corp. before attending the University of Tennessee. World War II interrupted college and Bruce served in the Burma-India-China Theater as a nose-gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He flew 50 missions and received both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He was always ``first over the target," one of which was bombing the bridges on the River Kwai.

Following his military service, Bruce completed his education with a degree in bacteriology and became the sperintendant of Dairy Operation for Sealtest in Youngstown for seven years. He then was a bacteriologist for the Pittsburgh District Dairy Council. He was a former member of the Society of American Bacteriologists, Western Pennsylvania Dairy Sanitarians, and a licensed Director of Dairy Products lab in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Howren then earned his masters degree in education from Westminster College before he taught chemistry and biology at Newton Falls High School. Later he became the guidance counselor at Poland High School for 17 years and had served as a former president of Mahoning County Counselors Association. He retired in April 1984.

Bruce was an active member of the church where he was a member of the Christian Builders Class and had served on both boards of Christian Education and the Diaconate. He was also a member of the former Hillman Lodge No. 481 F&AM now known as Wick Lodge, the OEA, NEA, and the Mahoning County Retired Teachers.

Mr. Howren leaves his iwfe of 58 years, Austa Hojer Howren, whom he married September 11, 1948; his daughters, Marilyn Faix of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Donna Haug of New Middletown; his son, Dr. Philip Howren of Cuyahoga Falls; and his brother, Don Howren of Howland. He was preceded in death by his brother, James and his four sisters, Dorothy Gott, Gladys Brose, Jessie Richards and Opal Joyce.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Mission Meadows, P.O. Box 42, Dewittville, NY 14728-0042. Arrangements by the Anstorm-Velker Funeral Home.