Richard Howard

Richard ?Dick? M. Howard, 85, of St. Joseph, died Monday, February 24, 2003, at his residence following a lengthy illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2003, 1:00PM, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Jon Bendewald officiating. Cremation will follow the service, with ashes buried at Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, MI. Friends may call on Wednesday, February 26, from 3:00 till 7:00PM, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, Trinity Lutheran Church, or to the St. Joseph Elks. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence or to sign the family guest book, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Dick was born on July 3, 1917 in Lawrence, MI to Richard and Irene (Buss) Howard. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1935. He married Josephine Misuraca on September 4, 1964 in Paw Paw, MI. Mr. Howard was employed with the State of Michigan for 45 years; first with the County Highway Department, then for app. 26 years with the Michigan State Police, and thereafter for app. 16 years with the State of Michigan License Bureau as Branch Manager of the St. Joseph office. He was Past Exalted Ruler of the St. Joseph Elk?s Lodge; 33rd degree Mason in the Marquette, MI lodge, and a member of the F.O.P lodge #96 of St. Joseph. Dick was also an avid Detroit Tiger baseball fan, he loved to golf, and was ?Mr. Fix It.? He is survived by his wife, Josephine; a son, Douglas Howard of Cadillac, MI; two daughters, Lucille Cooper of Redford, MI and Linda Noteboom of Kalamazoo, MI; two step-children, Mike Lytell of Paw Paw and Dian (Ken) Buehler of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; nine grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; and a sister, Barbara (Ralph) Fowler of Ludington, MI. He is preceded in death by his parents.