Obituary of James Howard

Shreveport, LA-A memorial service celebrating the life of James Kenneth (Ken) Howard will be held on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Louisiana Funeral Care, 3903 Meriwether Road. Reverend Linda Shepherd will conduct the service. The family will receive friends at Louisiana Funeral Care,on Thursday evening from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM James Kenneth (Ken) Howard passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2008 in his home with his wife and grandson by his side. Preceding him in death were his parents, Elijah and Vesta Howard, his stepfather, Frank Noonan, brother Connie Ray Howard, mother and father-in-law, Dorothy Conly and Murlin Lee Jackson, and his beloved step-daughter, Rene Rogers Meachum. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Jackson Howard, her son, Graham Wright Rogers, Jr., his wife, Katherine Whipple, and grandchildren, Corwin Ross Rogers, and Alexandra Nicole Meachum, all of whom received from him and gave to him the love and care reserved for natural fathers and grandfathers, and sister and brother-in-law, Julie Jackson and Ted P. Sandifer, their three children, Jared, and Michele Sandifer, Loren Sandifer, and husband, Eric Smith, grandchildren Jay, Parker, Annelise, and Dylan. Also surviving are his beloved three children and their children and grandchildren, and his cousins. From start to finish, Ken cherished life, savoring any opportunity to live it to the fullest. Graduating from Fair Park High School in 1944, a WWII Navy veteran, he attended Centenary College, LSU, and then graduated from Northwestern State University where he was on the swimming, diving, and gymnastics team. Later, as a NASA Scholar, he earned a Masters Degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He was a Fair Park High School teacher and coach retiring after twenty-five years to work at LSU Medical Center. After a second retirement, he participated in the Barbershop Singers; RSVP Singers; Chamber Choir; choir at NorthPoint United Methodist Church where he, his wife, and their family were members; and relished many years with the Shreveport German Band, a formidable group of retired professionals who brought much joy to audiences with their Tyrolean costume and Oom-Pah music. When he wasn?t singing, and playing, he was reading voraciously, writing and publishing, but another passion during these years became the Northwest Louisiana Senior Games, where he enjoyed being with all the participants, and especially his Senior Olympian award for Louisiana when he was 64 years old. He cherished his many friends, and played harmonica for grateful listeners. If you wish to honor his memory, please consider Northwestern State University, NorthPoint United Methodist Church, Centenary College, Caddo and Bossier Council on Aging Meals on Wheels, Providence House, the Rescue Mission, or any charity of your choice.