Robert Harry Howe of Lumberton, Texas died January 10, 2009 at the age of 88. Robert, who was known to friends and family as Bob, was born on November 22, 1920. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Everett and Anna Havel Hajek Howe, and by his sister, Fern Howe Albright. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of more than 59 years, Azalea Whitfield Howe. He is survived by his sister, Margie Howe Wosnitzky of Rosenberg, Texas; son, Richard Gary Howe and daughter-in-law, Marilyn Jeffcoat Howe of Houston, Texas; granddaughter, Rachael Allison Howe Abell and husband, Christopher Fitzgerald Abell of Lake Worth, Florida; grandson, Geoffrey Michael Howe of Houston, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Abell and Nathan Christian Abell. He is also survived by a host of nephews and nieces.
Like many others of the Greatest Generation, Bob lived through the hard times of the Great Depression and proudly served his country during World War II. He was born in an oil field camp in West Columbia, Texas and spent his toddler years in Long Beach, California. In 1924, his family moved to Rosenberg, Texas where they took up a life of farming. Bob always said growing up on the farm was hard work; but unlike many of the children in town, his family always had plenty of food to eat. While growing-up, his mechanical talents were evident in the wooden toys he made for himself and younger relatives, the crystal radio sets he built, and the furniture he made in the school wood working shop. Bob graduated from Rosenberg High School in 1939 and worked briefly as a service station attendant and as a surveying assistant. In that same year, he began his career with the Santa Fe Railroad which lasted more than 40 years. In June of 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force where he attained the rank of sergeant. During this time, he served as a mechanic on various military aircraft which included the B-29 Superfortress. Bob enjoyed the regimen and structure of the Army Air Force and considered making the military his career. However, the lure of a secure job with the railroad beckoned him back to civilian life at the end of World War II. Bob married Azalea Whitfield in June 1946, and they lived in Boling, Texas until 1960 when he was transferred by the railroad to Beaumont, Texas. In 1972, Bob and Azalea began construction on their home in Lumberton. The house was completed in 1974, and they lived there the remainder of their lives.
Bobs varied interests and talents made him somewhat of a modern-day Renaissance Man. He had the mind of an engineer and was able to repair everything from lawn mower to automobile to airplane engines, and he designed several houses and the church annex building in Boling, Texas. He was an all around craftsman and was proficient in carpentry, electrical wiring and plumbing. Before the advent of solid state circuitry, he could repair television sets and build hi-fidelity stereo systems. He built numerous pieces of quality furniture for his family and enjoyed vegetable gardening and working with his lawn. He also enjoyed woodworking programs and sometimes said that he could show them a thing or two. Bob loved watching football on TV and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.
Bob was a man of strong principles and was self reliant, strong-willed, and meticulous. He was a loving and generous father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a devout, born-again Christian and an active member of the First Baptist Church of Lumberton. Bob was an ordained deacon in the Baptist church for over five decades. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends. Undoubtedly, Bob is in Heaven planning and working on projects for God. Those of us that he has left behind are comforted by the knowledge that he walks with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Howe family extends their appreciation to the friends and neighbors that watched over Bob these last several years with a special thank you to Raymond Hale, Jesse Bos, Roger Haley, and Gordon Dunkleberger.
A family viewing will be held at R.S. Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm with visitation following from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at the funeral home. Internment will be at 3:00 pm on the same day at DavisGreenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg, Texas.
The funeral service will be officiated by Reverend Kevin McClusky. Pall bearers for the funeral service are: Tommy Jeffcoat, Dan Wosnitzky, Clyde Spears, Roger Haley, James Sikes, and Chad Voiland. Honorary pall bearers are Raymond Hale, Randy Freeman, Charles Kelley, and Gordon Dunkleberger. Graveside services will be conducted by Reverend Russell Fite. Pall bearers at graveside are: Dan Wosnitzky, David Wosnitzky, Clyde Spears, Tommy Jeffcoat, Chad Voiland, and Howell Wiesner.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bobs memory to the building fund for First Baptist Church of Lumberton, PO Box 8067, Lumberton, TX 77657.
