Grant Wetenkamp Howard died at Homewood Retirement Home on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the age of 96. Grant was born at home in Murray Nebraska on June 13, 1919 to Roy and Mildred Howard. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan Howard (Green) in 2012 after 70 years of marriage.
Grant grew up on a farm, coming from meager beginnings, and was proud to be the first of his family to attend college. He worked hard to fund his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska and went on to receive his Masters Degree of Business Administration at the University of Minnesota. During college Grant served in the ROTC and was called to active duty shortly after Pearl Harbor. He served in the Army Air Corp (now the Air Force) in WWII and the Korean War. After returning from active duty Grant worked for the Veterans Administration in Minnesota. In 1963 he moved his family across the country and settled in Maryland, where he first worked for the FAA and then transferred to the VA in Washington, D.C. Grant and Joan lived in the same house in Silver Spring until 2006 when they moved to Frederick to settle in their retirement home. He remained in the Air Force reserves until he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1979.
After retirement, Grant and Joan filled their time by traveling extensively, visiting every continent at least once. They loved recounting stories from their trips, especially about Portugal, which was their favorite place to visit. Grants hobbies also included serving as a Docent at the Smithsonian and being a longtime member of the Masons. He was a member of North Chevy Chase Christian Church in Chevy Chase for 53 years and served as a Deacon, Elder and Elder Emeritus.
Grant is survived by his son Stephen Howard and wife Joanne of Columbia, Maryland, his daughter Karen Barnard and husband Winston Jr. of Frederick, Maryland and his daughter Nancy Bowman and husband Craig of Wintergreen, Ohio. He leaves behind seven grandchildren, Winston III (Selena), Benjamin (Megan), Brandon (Alexandra), Matthew (Paulette), Amelia (Christopher), Sam (Jessica) and Lukas and six great grandchildren (Riley, Molly, Hunter, Scarlette, Juliette and Bennett).
A Memorial Service will be held at the North Chevy Chase Christian Church, 8814 Kensington Pkwy, Chevy Chase, MD on Saturday January 30, 2016 at 11:00 am.
The family has requested that memorial donations be sent to the Scholarship Fund of North Chevy Chase Christian Church (8814 Kensington Pkwy, Chevy Chase, MD 20815) or the Masonic Home (1300 Avenue D, Plattsmouth, NE 68048).
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