Luke Sr Obituary

Date: [unknown] to 2015
Location: Maryland, United States
Surname/tag: Howard

Luke Vincent Howard, Sr. of Royal Oak, Maryland died October 23, 2015. He was 83 years old. Born August 26th, 1932, he was the son of the late Vernon Francis and Mary Cecilia Howard. He graduated from Easton High School in 1951. He received his Associate of Art Degree from Salisbury State Teachers College (currently Salisbury University) in 1953 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticultural from the University of Maryland in 1956.

While at Maryland, he was a member of the Gymkhana Troupe, a gymnastic exhibition group.

He was married to Ann Hubbard Howard for 59 years. They were active members of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church from which he was honored with the Order of Merit for outstanding service to the diocese of Wilmington.

Immediately following graduation from college, Mr. Howard worked for the United States Department of Agriculture as a processed food inspector. Later, he was employed by the Maryland Juvenile Justice System for 29 years, 23 years as the Regional Director in charge of five counties on the upper Eastern Shore. During that time, he helped establish the Bethany House for juveniles. Upon retirement, he spent ten years as an ornamental gardener on a private estate. Mr. Howard was a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Club #1622.

He is survived by his wife Ann and a large, loving family. This includes Mary Annette Mitchell of Cambridge, and her family: Jennifer M. Woessner of Abita Springs, Louisiana, her husband, Andy, son Preston and step-daughter, Taylor, daughter Rebecca M. Montgomery with husband, Nick, children, Jessa, Gwenna and Dominic of Huntingtown, Maryland. Robert S. Mitchell and wife, Kelsey, Christopher Mitchell and wife, Christina, children, Emily and step-son Dylan of Belair, Maryland. Daughter Diana H. Johnson’s family includes her husband, Sherwood, Gavin, and Maxine of Royal Oak, Gabriel and wife, Meredith of Frederick, Maryland and Claire of Anchorage, Alaska.

Sons include Luke Vincent Howard, Jr. with his son, Luke V. Howard III and Joseph R. Howard with his wife, Deborah of Trappe, Maryland, step-daughter Rachel Esposito, husband Matt and granddaughters, Rory and Bella. Two children predeceased him: Peter Martin Howard and Angela H. Pugh. Angela was the wife of Dan Pugh and had a son, Sam J. Pugh.

His brother, Joseph T. Howard resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. His brother Francis V. Howard and sister, Mettie Marie H. Hill predeceased him.

A funeral liturgy will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Michaels Chapel on October 30, 2015, at 11AM.

Partial Joe Howard Eulogy (OCR)

OCR:

Luke and I were both born in August just 2 years apart, so we really grew up together and without thinking much about it were pretty constant companions. It was the Depression and we were poor, but we didn't know it. We had a happy childhood together. Our dad took us hunting and fishing and crabbing throughout our youth Most of the hunting trips I remember were duck hunting on what we called Newbaker's Island. We always got cold sitting in the duck blind and would ask our dad if we could go hiking in the woods to warm up. He would always say no at 1st but would eventually relent. One winter when the creek was all frozen and we had to break the ice to put out the decoys, we persuaded dad to to let us go, but he said, "Stay off the ice." We did 'til we got out of sight. At one point, I went out to look at a dark spot on the ice. It gave way, and I was in the water up to my shoulders with all my winter clothes and hip boots on. Luke who was about 10 or 11 at the time had the good sense to lie down on the ice and inch his way out to me 'til he could reach my hand and gradually pulled me back up on the ice. He may very well have saved my life. At the time I was more concerned about facing my father than dying.

Our mom was a very committed Catholic, and she wanted me to go to a Catholic school, none of which were on the Eastern Shore at the time, bu there was St. Mary's in Annapolis, where her brother, our Uncle Vic, was a parishioner, so that's where I attended 4th grade. Uncle Vic and Aunt Flo actually lived out in the country on Crab Creek. I had to walk a mile just to catch the bus to school. There were no occupied houses nearby and no other kids to play with. So I was very lonely and after Christmas the following year I was missing Luke terribly. Fortunately, my Uncle Vic gave me a weekly allowance of $.25. So diligently I saved up enough money to buy a bus ticket and walked out of school one morning down to the ferry boat terminal and got on the bus to Easton. My satisfaction at being back home with my brother only lasted a day or or two as my mom took me back to Uncle Vic's. But he would not let me stay since I had run away, so I finished 5th grade at Easton Elementary School.

People

• Luke Howard Sr.
• wife: Loretta Ann (Hubbard) Howard (1938-2020)
  • Martin Howard
  • Vincent Howard Jr.
  • Annette (Howard) Mitchell
    • Becca, Nick, children, Jessa, Gwenna and Dominic of Huntingtown, Maryland.
    • Jennifer (Mitchell) Woessner
  • Joseph Howard

See Also

• Ann Howard Obituary