Howard F. Allkins

Howard F. Allkins, 91, of St. Joseph, passed away on August 20, 2014 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M., Monday, August 25, 2014 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Chaplain Scott Labbe officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. Sunday, August 24, 2014 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to made to Hospice at Home or Humane Society. Those wishing to share a memory of Howard online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Howard was born on December 5, 1922 in St. Joseph to Claud & Edna (Bays) Allkins. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII. Howard married Rosemarie Koch on June 28, 1969 in St. Joseph. He worked at Bosch Automotive Group for twenty years as a tool and die inspector retiring in 1984. Howard was a member of Lakeshore Masonic Lodge #298 and Stevensville American Legion #568. He was a sports fan and enjoyed watching the Cubs, Bears and Jeff Gordon race in Nascar. Howard is survived by his daughters, Mildred “Mickie” Howard of Benton Harbor, and Tina (Thomas) Froehlich of St. Joseph; sons, Larry (Sharon) Allen, and Timothy (Justine) Allen both of Crossville, TN, and Walt (Teresa) Allen of Auburn, IL; brother, Vern Allkins of Lexington, TN; sister, Doris Champagne of St. Joseph; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; special caregiver Susan Phillips. He was preceded by his parents, wife Rosemarie Allkins, siblings Claud Allkins, Jr. and Avalon Arntz, and Phyllis Turner, mother of Mickie.