RICHARD HOWES JR.

Wasilla resident Richard Melvin Howes Jr., 70, died at his home Sept. 30, 2005, after a lengthy illness.

A memorial service and celebration of life was held at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 10, at Fairview Loop Baptist Church, Mile 8.2 Fairview Loop (from KGB Road) in Wasilla.

Graveside services with military honors were held at Fort Richardson at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11. Pastor Tom Hoffman officiated at both services.

Mr. Howes was born Dec. 6, 1934, in Gilroy, Calif. He graduated from Live Oak Union High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 2, 1952 through Jan. 19, 1973.

During his military service, he attended electronics class A, B and C school, U.S. NavScolCom TI and approach control radar maintenance school.

On Aug. 26, 1973, he moved to Alaska with his family and lived in Anchorage until moving to Wasilla in January 1976, where he resided until his death.

He acquired his associate's degree in applied science electronics technology at the Mat-Su Community College of the University of Alaska in Palmer.

During his life, he worked for Swanson Engineering & Manufacturing in Inglewood, Calif., from January to August 1973; Anchorage International Airport from 1973-1974; Toppers Inc. from 1974-1976; Idea Shop Alaskan Gifts and Arts & Crafts Supplies (a family-owned-and-operated business) from 1976-2000 and at the Matanuska Maid Feed Mill in the 1980s.

He also worked for the Alaska Daily News and Anchorage Times newspapers and was a special-education school bus driver.

Mr. Howes retired from Ludlow Transit Inc. in 1999 for medical reasons.

While serving in the military, Mr. Howes received a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), a Good Conduct Medal and a Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.

He received appreciation awards from the Wasilla Senior Center and the Special Olympics bowlers. He attended Fairview Loop Baptist Church.

He enjoyed fishing, bowling, reading, woodworking, cooking, crossword puzzles and computer games.

Mr. Howes' wife wrote, &#8221The whole family enjoyed camping, fishing and picture-taking.

&#8221We did so many things together through the years, he did the woodwork and I painted the detail. He prepared the gold pans while I painted them. He wrote the checks, I ran the errands and paid the bills. We also liked to cook.“

His son, Rob, wrote, &#8221Through the years, I received a lot of on-the-job training because Dad and I did so many projects ourselves. I learned to do electrical wiring and auto repairs. We've all helped with the remodeling on the homes we've had.

&#8221There wasn't a crossword puzzle we couldn't finish together.“

His son, Rick, wrote, &#8221I lived my life trying to be like him. I always looked up to him and respected him. When I was younger, I didn't understand all he was trying to teach me. In Dan Fogelberg's words: ‘His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand.'

&#8221He taught me the importance of honor and the value of a man's word.

&#8221He taught me that a man is not afraid to get his hands down in the dirt and work, that even a low, poor-paying job is better than no job at all.

&#8221So many of the skills that I have carried and used in my life, I learned from him, whether it was carpentry, plumbing or how to create what you need out of whatever is at hand.

&#8221I was proud of him and proud to be his son.“

His infant son and parents preceded him in death.

Mr. Howes is survived by his wife, Nancy Lee Pierce Howes; sons, Robert Edward Howes and Richard Melvin Howes III; daughter-in-law, Karen A. Howes; granddaughter, Kate L. Howes; grandson, Michael D. Howes, all of Wasilla; sister and brother-in-law, Ona Jean and Keith Kermoade of Sparks, Nev.; sister and brother-in-law, Marsha Ray and Frank Fontes of San Francisco, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Acct #1237055 at any branch of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.