ROCKLAND – Colonel Willard F. Howard, 84, of Rockland, formerly of Union, died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Maine Medical Center. He was born June 6, 1920, the oldest son of John Lowell and Addie Kennedy Howard of Union. Mr. Howard graduated from Union High School, joined the U.S. Army in 1939, serving in the European theater during World War II. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge under General George Patten. He received the Purple Heart for wounds in battle. He continued his military career after World War II in the U.S. Army Reserves for a total of 32 years service, retiring with the rank of full Colonel. He was a rural mail carrier for 28 years with the Union Post Office. He was a licensed electrician operating his own business for many years. He was the first fire chief of the Town of Union Volunteer Fire Department; he served on the Union Board of Education, was a town constable, served as a volunteer at the Owls Head Museum of Transportation and was a member of the Rockland Elks Club. He is predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Beatrice (Betty) Rich Howard; parents, sons, James Alan Howard and Jerome Adrian Howard; daughter-in-law, Joan Verrill Howard; sisters, Edith Levensaler and Norma Holden. Survivors include his special friend, Marion Hall and her family, of Rockland; brother, Warner Howard of Jefferson; daughter, Judith Grinnell of Union; grandchildren, Jennifer Grinnell of Raleigh, N.C., James Howard Jr., of Rockland, Jason Howard of El Cerrito, Calif., Jay Howard of Goose Creek, N.C. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. A committal service will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004, at the original Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery Chapel, Civic Center Drive, Augusta, Maine. Memorial donations may be made in Willard’s memory to the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum, PO Box 277, Owl’s Head, ME 04854 or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro.
COLONEL WILLARD Howard
