Kenneth P. Howard, 89

April 22, 2017

Kenneth (Ken) Howard, 89, died peacefully at home, April 22, 2017, in Lancaster, PA. He is survived by his loving wife and partner of 62 years, Florine, four devoted children (Barbara, Kathy, Susan and Ken) and three grandchildren (Madison, Bridget and Spencer). Ken is predeceased by his daughter Judy and grandson Travis.

Ken was born in Stamford, CT, June 7, 1927, to Edith and Ralph Howard. Following high school, Ken followed his desire to serve his country by joining the Navy in 1944 and serving through the end of the 2nd World War. He spent his service on an LST ship in the South Pacific, working as the ship’s electrician. When the war ended, he returned home and immediately started college. He received his BS in Psychology at Colgate University and then completed his Master’s Degree in Business at NYU.

Following graduation, he and his best Colgate buddy moved to Toledo, Ohio, where they took positions in local businesses. Their apartment happened to be next to Mercy Hospital where Flo was working. Ken and Flo met, courted and married on July 16, 1955, and had 5 children, moving to Lancaster in 1959. Throughout their 62 years of marriage they always enjoyed working together! They built their first house in Toledo, they gardened together, completed endless household projects and compatibly raised their children. As a parent Ken, was fair and supportive. He never failed to celebrate his kids’ achievements and find a positive in every situation!

Ken spent his working career in personnel, with employee benefits becoming an area of specialization. He spent endless hours volunteering his time, giving of his administrative expertise to the United Way, the PA Girl Scouts Council, Junior Achievement and Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. When he retired at 65, he and Flo began volunteering together, writing newsletters for the Lancaster chapters of the Cancer Society and the National Neuropathy Association.

Throughout his life Ken pursued many interests. He began painting in college and progressed to a love of drawing with pastels and painting with watercolors. He was an avid gardener, loving a neatly manicured lawn, his vegetable garden and Mr. Lincoln roses! He began woodworking by taking classes at the local Vo-tech and created beautiful furniture that his family enjoyed daily, from a kitchen trestle table to a dry sink. He loved camping, fishing and hiking with his children.

The Memorial Service will be held at 11AM, Thursday, April 27, 2017, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Family and friends will be received for a visitation from 10-11 AM, at the funeral home.

Rather than flowers, the family would prefer donations in Ken’s name to the American Heart Association, 610 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603 or Alzheimer’s Association, 706 Rothsville Rd., Lititz, PA 17543.