Obituary of Francis C Howard

Francis Clark Howard, age 73, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 7, 2022. He was born in Fort Myers, Florida on December 26, 1948 to the late Woodrow Carl and Anna Lou Howard. After graduation from LaBelle High School he served in the United States Army where he completed a tour in Vietnam. Upon his return to the states he worked as a surveyor for several years before he obtained his Florida real estate brokers license and established Howard Realty. In 2008 he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Central Florida. He taught Drafting and Design at Sebring High School until he retired in 2010. After retirement he made his way home to LaBelle where he spent the remainder of his life with his family and friends.

Francis was a Florida native with deep roots in the town of LaBelle. He loved his family heritage and spent many hours working on his family genealogy. He inherited his mother’s green thumb and love for plants and flowers. He enjoyed his antique cars, trips to the mountains of North Carolina, cooking and eating. He was a member of Whispering Pines Baptist Church in Sebring, Florida. He was very close to his family and loved spending time with them. He was a jokester who loved to laugh and make those around him laugh. He never met a stranger and always had a smile and a kind word to share.

Francis leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years; Debbie Howard, his brother; Julian W. Howard (Vicki), two children and their spouses; Kelly (Danny) Jones, Clay (Victoria) Howard, his grandchildren; Ashley, Drew (Lauren), Ryan (Hydee), Mackenzie, Riley and Serenity, his great grandchildren; Emerson, Lily, Ben, William, Hayne and Ryatt and many extended family members and friends.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents: Woodrow and Anna Lou Howard and his sister: Emily J. Bauer.

Graveside service celebrating his life will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday, August 19, 2022 at Fort Denaud Cemetery.