Earl J. Howard (1916-2010)

HOWARD, SPRINGER, NIBEL, SAWYER, HOWARD, MOEN, HUSBY, EBERHARD, FARRELL

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/5/2012 at 22:36:42

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

Earl Howard

BORN: June 15, 1916
DIED: December 30, 2010
LOCATION: Story City, Iowa

Earl J. Howard, 94 years of age, formerly of Ames, Roland, and Story City, passed away December 30, 2010, at Augustana Chapel View Care Center in Hopkins, Minnesota. Funeral service will be on Friday, January 7, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Bergen Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa. Burial will be in the Roland Cemetery, followed by a light lunch at the church. There will be a visitation of family and friends on Thursday, January 6 from 4:00-6:00 p.m in the Bergen Lutheran Church parlor.

Earl was born on June 15, 1916 to Earl Henry and Gladys Ruth (Springer) Howard in Dumont, Iowa. He married Charlotte Nibel on September 15, 1940 in Slater, Iowa. They welcomed two daughters, Sally Ann and Donna Earlene.

Earl worked in the aviation business from 1937 to 1964 as owner of Howard Flying Service, manager of the Ames Municipal Airport, flight instructor, commercial and charter pilot, and airframe and engine mechanic. In 1940 Earl received a contract to provide flight instruction to the Civilian Flight Training Program, initiated by our government in anticipation of the U.S. entry into W.W. II. Following December 7, 1941, this program became the War Training Service, and until 1944 Earl and his instructors provided flight training to Navy cadets.

After selling his private business in 1964, he established the Flight Service Department for Iowa State University, where he served as director of flight operations and one of its pilots until his retirement in 1972. Earl’s lifelong passion for aviation also led him to two private projects: in 1967 he adapted a twin-engine plane and flew Charlotte to Europe to attend the Rotary International Convention in France; and in 1985 he built and flew an experimental light-weight aircraft which he then donated to the Iowa State Historical Museum.
Earl was a member of Bergen Lutheran Church, the OX5 Aviation Pioneers, and, for 67 years, the Rotary Club of Ames. He and Charlotte loved traveling with their young family and later spent 20 retirement years traveling worldwide. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing trips, spending time with family and friends, and actively participating in his church. His life drew the tremendous love and respect of all.

Earl is survived by his daughters, Sally Sawyer (David) of Golden Valley MN and Donna Howard of Duluth MN; five grandchildren: Michael Sawyer (Elizabeth) of St. Paul MN, Nathan Sawyer (Shannon) of Crystal MN, Martha Sawyer (Brian Moen) of Bloomington MN, Jason Husby of San Francisco CA, and Benjamin Howard Husby of Minneapolis MN; and six great-grandchildren: Adam Sawyer, Mikkel Sawyer, Erik Sawyer, Emma Charlotte Eberhard, Aaron Eberhard, and Arwen Sawyer; and one sister, Marie Farrell of Naperville IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and Charlotte, his wife of 63 years.

Memorials may be designated to Bergen Lutheran Church.

Funeral Service

January 07, 2011

11:00 AM

Bergen Lutheran Church

101 W. Maple

Roland, IA 50236

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen