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Gene Howard

Nov. 24, 1931-Oct. 24, 2021

Gene Howard, 89,

Surrey, died Sunday, Oc-

tober 24, 2021 in his

home.

Gene was born on No-

vember 24, 1931 in Cher-

ry Hill, AR, to Marion and

Willie (Hess) Howard. He

was raised and educated

in Cherry Hill and Mena,

AR, graduating from Mena

High School in 1951.

Gene didn’t waste any

time before entering ac-

tive service with the

USAF on June 9, 1951 in

Fort Smith, Arkansas. It

was in the Air Force

where Gene would remain

for the next 26 years as a

dedicated service man to

his country, followed by

twenty more years with

the Civil Service.

In the Air Force Gene

lived in many places

throughout the country

and the world, it started

with his basic training in

Wichita Falls, TX, from

there Gene was stationed

at numerous bases which

included East Texas State

College (ETSC) Technical

School; Korea; Eglin AFB,

FL; Sidi Slimane AFB,

Morocco; Travis AFB, CA;

Chanute AFB, IL; Ran-

dolph AFB, TX; Vanden-

berg AFB, CA and lastly

Minot AFB, ND.

It was the year of 1954

at the Eglin AFB, Florida,

where Gene would meet

his future wife Joan Helen

Bourhill. The couple was

married on July 22, 1955,

at a Methodist church in

Pascagoula, Mississippi.

From this union four chil-

dren were born, Kathleen,

Michael, David, and Jef-

fery.

Gene’s life took him all

over the world; places he

called home were, Cherry

Hill and Mena, AR, Lom-

poc, CA, Minot AFB and

lastly Surrey, ND.

Hobbies that Gene en-

joyed in his free time

were fishing with family

and friends, hunting with

his brothers and the fami-

ly dog, Rowster, trail rid-

ing with Peaches and Rus-

ty, and playing with Mok-

ie. Gene loved being in

and observing nature, he

could often be found

watching wildlife on his

favorite webcams.

Gene’s loving family in-

cludes: his wife, Joan,

Surrey; Daughter, Kath-

leen (Bob) Thisse, Fawn

Grove, PA; Sons, Michael

Howard, Nashville, TN,

David (Barbara) Howard,

Minot, ND, and Jeffery

Howard, Surrey, ND; 8

grandchildren; 18 great-

grandchildren; 3

great-great-grandchildren;

and numerous nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in

death by: his parents; Si-

blings Curtis Howard,

Frank Howard, Berniece

Howard, Otis Howard,

Everett Howard, Virgil

Howard, and Twinkle

Wilson.

A private burial with

military honors will take

place at the North Dakota

Veterans Cemetery of

Mandan.

Memories and con-

dolences can also be

shared at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com