Howard, Roger Keith

Roger Keith Howard - age: 81
(January 11, 1935 to December 15, 2016 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
Roger Keith Howard, age 81, passed away at his home in Ukiah, California surrounded by cherished family on December 15, 2016. He was born on January 11, 1935 in Hot Springs, South Dakota to Burdette Raymond and Flora Ellen (Kambak) Howard. At age 2, the family moved to Lebanon, Oregon where they lived until Roger was 14 when they moved to Ukiah. Roger graduated from Ukiah High School in 1953 after excelling in basketball and track. Upon graduation, he went to work at the Savings Bank of Mendocino County. He started as a bank teller and ended up 40 years later as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking in 1975. He met his wife Wilma (Ratliff) at school but became better acquainted at the Savings Bank and later married on September 10, 1955 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ukiah. Together they had two children – Jo-Ellen born in 1957 and Steven born in 1961.
Roger was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a man of few words but had the love and respect of those he cared about. He was clear on how he wanted to live his life and he succeeded.
Roger loved to fish. He was best-dressed fisherman and always strived to have his line in first. He spread this love to family and friends. The San Francisco Giants were his team. Family vacations often consisted of a weekend in San Francisco at the Golden State Hotel and daily (or nightly) treks to Candlestick Park to watch the Giants play the Dodgers. Roger reveled in the fact that the Giants FINALLY won a world Championship – or THREE. After retirement, Roger and Wilma had many great traveling adventures – cruises to Alaska, the Baltics, the British Isles, St Lawrence Seaway, and Hawaii. Trips to New England in autumn to see the beautiful colors and Sedona to see the desert Southwest. Seattle was a travel destination to visit Jo-Ellen and Becky and also the Bay Area to see Steve, Jenifer and Rachel.
As a child, Roger’s family vacationed in and around the McKenzie River in Oregon. For many years, he has led an annual trek to spend time on these sacred waters. Many great memories are etched in our minds about our time on the river.
Roger is survived by his loving wife Wilma and children Jo-Ellen Howard (Rebecca Cummings) and Steven Keith Howard (Jenifer Damewood); granddaughter Rachel Damewood Howard; sister Carol Seawell (William); brother Charles (Sally). He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Royce.
Roger will be missed by his nieces and nephews and the many life long friends in Ukiah and those he and Wilma made on their many travels.
Special thanks to Gary DeCrona, Aileen Brown and to Roger’s caregivers while in the hospital and at home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Apostles Lutheran Church, 102 Scott Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 or
Plowshares, 1346 South State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Family and friends are invited to a memorial that will take place on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 2PM at the Ukiah Senior Center on 495 Leslie Street in Ukiah, California. Pastor Kent Dethlefsen will preside.