Howard Earl “Rex” Webb

Howard Earl “Rex” Webb — affectionately known to many as “Grandpa” — died Sept. 1, 2012, at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with his daughter Sherri, son-in-law Bob and granddaughter Jewel by his side. He was 79.

The memorial service is at 2 p.m., Sept. 15 at Big Lake Baptist Church, 10864 W. Parks Hwy. Pastor Brad Whitworth will officiate. Later, his grandson, Joshua, will take Howard on his last Harley ride, spreading his ashes in the wind.

Howard was born in Muskogee, Okla., on May 9, 1933. His family moved to California in 1940, where he eventually graduated from Vacaville High School in 1950. He moved to Wasilla in 2008.

Howard worked as a professional flat track motorcycle racer from the late 1940s through the middle 1960s and had his own band. He was a metal fabricator, he owned his own tractor and drove 18-wheelers for Andrew Van Lines. He also worked for Webb’s Welding and Basic Vegetable plant. Howard enjoyed riding Harleys, cat fishing, bowling, golfing, watching the fights, the Oakland Raiders, television and playing pinochle and poker for money. He attended church at Big Lake Baptist Church and was a member of the Odd Fellow Lodge, the Moose Lodge and the original Hell’s Angels.

Howard was a ladies’ man. He married seven times and had eight children. When he was asked why he married so many women, he replied with a sparkle in his eye, “It made the ladies happy.” When asked to name his wives, he would take along look at the names tattooed on his arms so as not to forget one, then he would say with that ever present twinkle, “You know there is still room for a couple more.”

During the last days of his life he couldn’t remember his daughter’s name, but he would look at her husband and say, “That’s Bob.” Then he would look at her and say, “Why can’t I remember your name? What I do know is I love you!”

That’s all she needed to know.

“I love you too, Dad, can’t wait to see you again,” Sherri said.

Surviving is his wife, Elvera; brother, Jimmy Donald Webb; sons and daughter, Gary Earl, Stephen Eugene, Randy, Joseph Howard, Sherri Denise, William Warren, Ivan Scott and Danny; grandchildren, Joshua (Alyssa) Gavulic, Jacob (Jamie) Gavulic, Jewel Gavulic and many more; and great-grandchildren, Rylie, Tristyn, Austyn, Suttyn, Evylie and many more.

Preceding him in death by his parents, Ivan and Jewel Webb.

In lieu of flowers, you may purchase manly magazines along with playing cards and deliver them to the second floor at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Howard’s name. The family of Howard Webb wishes to thank the staff at Mat-Su Regional and the Comfort Keepers for the friendship and dignity they provided during his two-week stay. You’ll never know what peace you provided his family with just knowing you were staying in the room with him so they could go home in the evening and rest.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory. An guestbook and obituary are online at alaskanfuneral.com.