Dr. William Lawrence Howe of Clearfield died Sunday, July 3, 2016 at the age of 86 in Chandler, Ariz. He was born in Clearfield on March 2, 1930 to the late Dr. Lawrence and Margaret (Baird) Howe.
Dr. Howe was a graduate of Clearfield High School in 1948, Gettysburg College in 1952 and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1956. He interned at Altoona Hospital from 1956 to 1957.
He then entered the U.S. Navy and served from 1958 to 1960. He was a senior medical officer at NAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, Fla.
Dr. Howe began the practice of general medicine and obstetrics in Clearfield in July of 1960. He gave up the practice of obstetrics in the 1970’s after delivering nearly 3,500 babies.
He was a member of the medical staff at the Clearfield Hospital for the majority of his 39 years as a physician. His practice was a big part of his life and he loved serving the Clearfield community.
Dr. Howe was a member of the Clearfield Presbyterian Church and the Clearfield Elks and Rotary Clubs. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as feeding the deer and birds in his back yard.
He would frequently escape to the “furnace room” where he enjoyed making model airplanes and reloading ammunition. Along with his wife, Connie, they enjoyed their home in Clearfield, their many friends as well as traveling with family and friends.
He is survived by his dearly loved children and their families, William “Bill” Howe II, MD, and his wife, Anne of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Margaret “Peggy” Lichvar and her husband, Robert of Tempe, Ariz., and Sharon Jeffco and her husband, David of Nowata, Okla.
Dr. Howe is survived by four grandchildren, Vinnie Lichvar and his fiancée, Danielle, Angela (Lichvar) Lattin and her husband, Reed, Elizabeth (Howe) Vera and her husband, Danny and John Howe and three great-grandchildren, Camille and Landon Lattin and William Vera.
He is also survived by a brother, James B. Howe of Pine Knoll Shores, NC; a sister, Mary Ann Knepp of New Bern, NC; a niece, Bonnie (Knepp) Gahagen; three nephews, Mark Connor and Tim and Terry Knepp; a sister-in-law, Susie Connor; and two brothers-in-law, Perry Connor and James Knepp.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 62 years and the love of his life, Christine “Connie” (Connor) Howe, and a nephew, Andrew Knepp.
Dr. Howe’s family welcomes all his friends to celebrate his life. Friends will be received beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Clearfield Presbyterian Church.
A service at the church will follow at 3 p.m. with Mr. Richard B. Barkley officiating. Military honors will be accorded at the church by the Clearfield Honor Guard.
Burial will be in Bloomington Cemetery. A dinner will be provided at the church following the service.
The Bennett & Houser Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.
To send online tributes, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.