Richard E. Howe, 85, of Safety Harbor, passed this life to be with our Lord on Thursday, 3 February, 2011, at 2:25 pm. He was the beloved husband of Barbara A. Howe (nee Olsen), with whom he celebrated 32 years of marriage. His beloved first wife, Jeanne Phyliss Howe (nee Davis) and the mother of his nine children preceded him in death after 32 years of marriage. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Ellwood Howe and the late Mary Howe (nee Keefe) of North Walpole, NH.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving on the USS LST 572 as MotorMac Third Class from 1943 until 1946. After training at a US Navy school in Chicago, IL, he worked in the operations of the engine room of his ship. His ship was involved in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater until after D-Day. After a ship re-fitting and re-painting the Pacific colors in New England, LST 572 was reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater in the September 1944. His ship served throughout the islands in the Pacific, joining the assault and occupation of the Okinawa Gunto, May and June 1945. He was present at the Philippine Liberation and following that the USS LST-572 performed occupation duty in the Far East until February 1946.
Mr. Howe worked as a shipper/receiver with St. Johnsbury Trucking Company in Cambridge, MA, for 30 years, retiring in 1977. After moving to Clearwater, FL in 1980 from Bellows Falls, VT he enjoyed working well beyond retirement age in security at Honeywell and customer service at Publix, both in Clearwater, FL.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, both in Safety Harbor, FL. He was a member of an LST (the initials represent the type of his amphibian ship, "Landing Ship Tank") group who gathered once a month for breakfast at the Madeira Beach VFW at Johns Pass, FL, until there was no longer enough LST veterans who remained or were able to make the trip.
He enjoyed spectator sports and was a faithful fan of his New England basketball, football and baseball teams.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Howe is survived by his 9 children (5 sons and 4 daughters) and 8 step-children (4 sons and 4 daughters). His loving children are Richard W. Howe (Arlene), Lancaster, NH, Kenneth Howe (Anne), N Easton, MA, Curtis Howe (Patricia), Ft Pierce, FL, Elizabeth Schlie(Earl), Berlin, NH, Mary Alice DeLuca (Robert), Bellows Falls, VT, Jonathan Howe (Monica), Bellows Falls, VT, Jeannette Hakey (Phillip), Virginia Beach, VA, Christopher Howe (Deborah), Keene, N H, Jeanne Ball (David), Clearwater, FL. His loving step children are Ronald Smith (Josephine), Plymouth, WI, Wiley Smith (Susan), Redding, CA, Alex Smith (Kathleen), Arcata, CA, Wayne Hannes, Mauston, WI, Melanie Perry (Steven), Safety Harbor, FL, Sandra Edwards (David), Norfolk, VA, Mary Elizabeth Steberg (Mark), Fond du Lac, WI, Linda Spitzer (Ed), Fond du Lac, WI.
He is also survived by his brother James Howe of Myrtle Beach, SC, and by 43 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Leslie Howe and his sister Marguerite Savoie.
A visitation for family and friends will be held at the White Chapel, 1190 Georgia Avenue, Palm Harbor, FL Tuesday, 8 February 2011 between the hours of 6 – 8 PM. His funeral service will be held there (the White Chapel) at 11AM on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. Interment will follow with military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation. Information on donations is available at http://www.thehospice.org/help/donating.aspx.
Dad,
I will miss you. We had good times together when I was young and old and you always had faith in me and my abilities. I hope you were proud of me because I am so proud of you for being the wonderful nurturing father that I so fortunate to have in my life.
Love to all in heaven for I know you are feeling joy in seeing all who you have missed here on earth. What a celebration.
Your loving son and namesake,
Rich
As a kid I remember calling him Fred because he reminded me of Fred Flintstone. But ya know, Fred acted tough on the outside but a gentle soul on the inside, kinda like him. I cut my thumb once to the bone and Dad came into the bathroom to see what was going on, turned white and almost passed out. I thought to myself, here’s a guy who went through WWII,probably saw Lot’s of carnage and almost passed out at the sight of a little blood. That’s my Dad. Will miss you. See ya on the other side. Jon
Although “hero” may have been the last words you would have used to describe yourself. It’s the first words that myself and many others would have used Richie Howe. You gave me such strength in my life. May you continue to give strength to those left behind. You are loved dearly and will be missed. Rest in peace. Love Always, Sandie & Family
There are so many good memories that keep coming to my mind since you passed. Everything I think about goes back to the one central thought that I was so lucky to have a stepdad like you. You were wonderful to me-a strong and guiding force that gave me the consistency that I needed at the worst time in my life. You never gave up on loving me, and in return I couldn’t help but love and admire you in return. I will think about you every day for the rest of my life, and hold those precious memories close to my heart forever.
love always and forever, Linda
My dad was always able to find the good in people especially the ones he loved,always gave you a chance it may be the school of hard knocks as he would call it but the strength he taught us would get you through. miss you more than you will ever know Mary
As a teen, I will never forget Grandpa telling my father that I should be a model..that was love I tell you! :) I didn’t see my Grandpa nearly as much as I wanted to, but when I did, he was the sweetest, kindest, most generous man. Always smiling, always had a story or 3 :)…& then later on, whenever my son had a report on a Hero in his life, Grandpa Howe always got the call – obviously! He was the original NE everything fan in my family, passed it down to us through my Dad & no matter where we live, we will be fans too! I was so blessed that my son actually got to spend time with & know his great-Grandpa. Now he will be another angel watching over all of us with that big smile of his. But we will miss you Grandpa & always love you.
As a teen, I will never forget Grandpa telling my father that I should be a model..that was love I tell you! :) I didn’t see my Grandpa nearly as much as I wanted to, but when I did, he was the sweetest, kindest, most generous man. Always smiling, always had a story or 3 :)…& then later on, whenever my son had a report on a Hero in his life, Grandpa Howe always got the call – obviously! He was the original NE everything fan in my family, passed it down to us through my Dad & no matter where we live, we will be fans too! I was so blessed that my son actually got to spend time with & know his great-Grandpa. Now he will be another angel watching over all of us with that big smile of his. But we will miss you Grandpa & always love you.
Always a gentleman and a pleasure to have known. Having read your obituary, I now better understand why you had such great perspectives and could talk with me on practically any subject as if you had first hand experience in one way or another. But what I will always remember most about you is your kindness (the second was your sense of humor and your ability to make me chuckle even when you weren’t trying to be funny!). Having known you in Safety Harbor, you made such an impression on me how you took care of Barbara with such loving kindness that I have often thought, that’s how I want to be. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Greater than my sadness is the joy for your rich life and legacy, and your arrival into the glory.
My dad taught me to be strong but fair. My dad touched the lives of all involved. My dad pointed all of us in the right direction and gave us strength to endure trials and tribulations. This will and determination has been pasted down to all his children, grand children, and great grand children. I am very lucky to be one who has lived with him, loved him, learned from him and been part of his life on earth. Dad, I will miss you, rest in peace, love forever.
Our deepest condolence to the family.
As a young man my father Richard taught me so many valuable life lessons that I use on a day to day basis that I can not help but think of him all the time. One of the many lessons he role modeled to me was sportsmanship, as proud of his sport’s team’s as he was he always carried himself in a respectful manner and would respect other’s point of view.
Father Richie also taught me the value of saving and to this day when I’m eating home made “Boston Beans” on Fridays I think of him and his receipe with hot dogs that I have used for life. I’ll miss you in some ways but i know you are always with me Father…………..
Barbara my mom Helen Gerull Thibault was sadden to hear of her cousin Richard’s passing. Our deepest condolences on your loss.