HOWe Things Are…

James Duane Howe went home to his lord and savior November 19, 2017 at the age of 78 years.

Jim was born in Owosso, Michigan, the firstborn son of Floyd Everett and Myrtle Ione (Parrish) Howe. Jim was raised on their farm in Laingsburg Michigan. He attended Flint Junior College before transferring to University of Michigan where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (AE) in 1964.  At Michigan, Jim was involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship where he met Sue. To win her hand, Jim, a lifelong hater of cats, brought a kitten in his car the 65 mile journey back to school. It turns out Sue is allergic (but not to that cat).

Susan and Jim were married November 27, 1964 in Caro, Michigan at the church where Jim’s father-in-law was the pastor. Jim and Sue moved to Renton, Washington where Jim got his first AE position at Boeing.  Jim later moved to Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas.  Jim and Sue welcomed daughters Sheila, Sheryl, and Stephanie. In 1974, the family moved to Arizona where Jim worked at Garrett Engines (Allied Signal) and son Steve arrived. Jim and Sue moved a final time in 1992 to Mobile, Alabama.

Jim enjoyed his work in aeronautics, but a greater legacy he left for his family was through many years that Jim made being home every night at 5pm for dinner with the family a priority.  Jim valued active engagement in his local church. He modeled loyalty and faithfulness to Christ, to his family and all who knew him.

Jim retired from his engineering career in 2004. Jim was a music fan: he especially appreciated pipe organ music. He was a mechanic extraordinaire, Jim could and did fix anything: cars, appliances, violin cases, not always appreciated by his family when he got that much more life out of objects they wished might just be thrown away. He liked to build things: for instance, the “small” garage to house at least some of his toys (tools, truck) and he had an affinity for rutabagas, parsnips, turnips, all root vegetables, also not shared by his family. Jim was a kind father, son, brother, uncle, and friend who will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, children Sheila (Chuck), Sheryl, Stephanie (Jim) and Steven (Jennifer), grandchildren Susan, Charlie, Christian, Nathan, Owen, and Abbey, sisters Betty and Rosanne and was preceded in death by brother, Donald.