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Howard's Service was held at First Christian Church in Breckenridge, with about 250 people. It was a beautiful personal setting with the sun lighting up the six stained glass windows on each side.
After the minister gave a little of Howard's childhood, his grandson spoke, and Ray Kinny and Scott Rozzell spoke from the warbird and aviation side. Scott accurately described Howard out walking his dogs early in the morning with "his long skinny white legs and 1970's shorts", just as we have enjoyed walking with he and Carolyn. Scott brought some humor to a sad situation. He said he and Howard were at a black tie NASA event, and met a young F-22 test pilot, who, despite there being an ex-president and two astronauts there, only wanted to meet Howard. Another time, Scott and his wife vacationed in the middle of the Pacific. where in the primitive, open sided hut, had only 3 pictures on the wall, and one of them was Howard.
Howard was well known all over the warbird and aviation community and he did this with excellent flying of great planes, not with a lot of self promotion. Bill never once saw Howard in the bar in his flight suit like so many other commercial acts or heard him announced as the greatest pilot. What you had was excellent flying and great airplanes, and didn't need the hype. Once at an airshow, the announcer was trying to get Howard to give him a lot of background for a big promotion. Howard told him, "You talk and I'll fly."
A reception was held at Howard's hangar that was perfect for such a time; a lunch buffet, wine, iced tea.
There were his home town people and family, but also many pilots and wives from all over: Ronnie Gardner, Steve Hinton, Ralph Royce, Larry from Lone Star, Jim and Kevin from Cavanaugh, Gordon and Gordon Jr. Richardson, Steve Brown, Connie and Tex Edwards, Jerry and Patti Hayes, and Carolyn's Houston friends. A few smiles were brought to some sad faces and especially his family and old friends.
Rod Lewis brought 3 Bearcats and they were joined by Nelson in Howard's Fury for fly bys.
Bill has known Howard for 28 years and in that time he has always seen Howard make good landings in the Bearcat as if there is nothing to it. Any time we have spent with Howard and Carolyn has always been fun and interesting. We will remember Howard.
Bill and Becky
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