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