Reuben H. Howard

BMC Reuben Herbert Howard (Retired), 76, passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2013, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House with his family at his side after a long courageous battle with prostate cancer.

He was born in Oakfield, N.Y., on April 9, 1937, the son of the late Reuben and Edith (Lauvey) Howard.

Reuben proudly served the United States for 20 years by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and later in the U.S. Coast Guard. While in the USAF, Reuben was stationed in Korea and Guam.

During his Coast Guard enlistment, he was stationed in multiple locations in New York, including Oswego, USCG Station Galloo Island, Lake Ontario and Cape Vincent where he was also Officer in Charge of the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse. He was later stationed on the Cutter Cook Inlet in Portland, the Cutter Evergreen out of Boston, Mass., and then in 1974 retired from duty in South Portland.

Reuben went on to work for 24 years at Saint Joseph College in Standish as the Facilities Director.

He volunteered time to town civic organizations including, BSA Cub Scout Master and coaching his son's baseball team.

Reuben and his wife were members of Vacationland Dog Club since 1972, serving in different capacities and traveled all over the U.S. and Canada exhibiting their dogs. He belonged to the North Coast N.Y. Coast Guard Assoc. and was a member of the Hutchinson-Boulter Post of the American Legion and the Maine Antique Tractor Club.

He enjoyed woodworking, being home and working on house projects, operating his Ham Radio, antique tractors and spending time with his family.

Reuben was predeceased by his siblings, Charles, Lorraine, Evelyn and Dorothy. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marlene (Seyfarth) Howard; daughters, Heidi Jacques and her husband Thomas of Windham, Heather Welch of Manchester, N.H., son, Kurt Howard and his wife Michele of South Portland; sisters, Mary Carr and Shirley Howard; and grandchildren, Joseph, Andrea, Moira, Patrick and Claire.

Visiting hours and viewing will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2-4 p.m., at the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, located on the corners of Rts. 202 and 4A (13 Portland Rd.) in Buxton (Bar Mills).

A service will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Buxton United Methodist Church, Chicopee Road, in Buxton. A private graveside service will be held at the Southern Maine Veteran's Cemetery, Stanley Road in Sanford (Springvale). Pastor Lynn Briggs will officiate.