R. Gene Howard
R. Gene Howard, 91, of Cabot, formerly of Lower Burrell, died Monday at the Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia.
He was born Dec. 26, 1924, in Captina, W.Va., the son of the late Rupert Dean and Bessie Berisford Howard.
Gene was the owner of Gene's Tire Service in Lower Burrell for 26 years, retiring in 1986. He was a 42-year member and past president of the Lower Burrell Lions Club and a recipient of the Lions Melvin Jones Fellow, an honor accorded to Lions for service to their community. He also was a member of the VFW Post 92 in Lower Burrell and a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows in Freeport.
Gene was a member and trustee of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Lower Burrell. He was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, where he received the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Gene was the beloved husband of 72 years to Garnet McCollim Howard; the dear father of Cheryl Howard Bogatay of Simpsonville, S.C., and Leah Howard Kubalik (the late Richard I. Kubalik) of Sheffield Village, Ohio; the loving grandfather of Michelle Jaworski, Jennifer (Joe) Sayegh, Cyndi (Jonathan) Bigelow and Kathy (Sean) Leckrone, all of Simpsonville, S.C., and David (Becca) Killmeyer of Palmyra, Va.; and Andrew (Julie) Kubalik of Sarasota, Fla.; the great-grandfather of 21; the brother of Gerald (Doris) Howard of Elderton, Pa. and the late Robert D. Howard and Harold Wayne (Estelle) Howard; and the brother-in-law of Helen Howard and Edna Wells; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.
HOWARD — Family and friends of R. Gene Howard, who died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the FRANK F. GIGLER FUNERAL HOME, 2877 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell, Pa., and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bethel United Methodist Church, 150 Alder St., Lower Burrell, Pa., with the Rev. Darlene Ryniec officiating and a eulogy by the Rev. Paul Taylor.Burial with military honors will be conducted by the Plum American Legion Post 980 and will follow at the Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell, Pa.The Lower Burrell Lions Club will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home for a service.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the VFW National Home for Children, 3573 S. Waverly Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.For more information, visit www.giglerfuneralhome.com.
