JAMES ROBERT, LT.USN (ret.) gently removed his hand from that of his beloved wife Joan, placed his hand in God's and entered Heaven on April 25, 2010, at the age of 82, after a well fought battle with pancreatic cancer. As Dylan Thomas advised, "He did not go gentle into that good night." His death occurred 14 days after the twenty third anniversary of his marriage to Joan McDonald Lockard Howard and 10 days afer the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of his dear first wife Margaret (Peggy) Hildenberger Howard.
Although bedridden for the last two months due to muscle failure of his legs, he retained his spirit of love and living. Working an hour or two on a laptop propped on his hospital bed (at home) he completed his complicated income tax and filed it electronically as a present for Joan.
Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, Jim entered the United States Navy at age 17 during World War II. He held the rank of Electronic Technician 3rd class. After that war he attended the University of Illinois where he
earned his B.S. in Engineering Physics with the class of
'49, and one year later attained an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Jim was called back to serve in the Korean War, after which he was sent to Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He was sent as an Ensign to the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, PA, where he worked on the study of ocean environments and the development of air-dropped sonobuoys. He was promoted to LT., but left the active Navy, remaining in the Reserve, to continue as a civilian working on the sonobuoy, aircraft processors and displays, and helping to devise new concepts for submarine detection software. He assisted the Navy as a civilian from 1952 to 2009, concluding his career by consulting for NAV-MAR and RDA, Inc. at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, MD for the Naval Air Warfare Center.
Among the honors he received in his long and productive service to our country was his selection by President Jimmy Carter to be in the first group of Carter's Senior Executive Service, in which he was named Senior Scientist for Airborne ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) technology. He was also selected by the Naval Air Develpment Center to be one of its first Fellows. In addition, he was a recipient of the prestigious Admiral Martel Award. He was called on to serve upon many International Boards and represent the Navy at International conferences. His work took him around the world. His portrait hangs in the lobby of the Engineering Building at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
In addition to his cherished wife Joan, he leaves his loving children: Anne Draper (Steve), Jim, Jr. (Susie), David (Stacy), Rob (Peg). His youngest son Dan died in 2006 of Melanoma, leaving his widow, Pam. He is also survived by his devoted stepson Dr.Jamie Lockard (Mary Ann), and his caring "adopted" daughter Tesa Conlin (Dominique Bagnato). He was the proud grandfather of one grandson, Mac Lockard, and ten granddaughters: Kate, Kelly, Ani, Eliza, Josie, Ginger, Lucy, Mara, Bliss, and Mila. He had his "own Navy" of devoted friends, including his best friend Keith Russell, his roommate at the University of Illinois. His nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws enriched his life, as he did theirs.
Though busily occupied in the service of his country, he always found time for his family, serving as a Cub Scout leader when his wife Peggy became ill with colon cancer, coaching basketball in the Upper Moreland Twp. recreational program. and helping his boys in their CCD studies. He saved carefully and succeeded in sending all 5 of his children to the colleges of their choice. In 1982 he took six weeks accumulated vacation time to tour the U.S. with his family in a camper. And while his sweet Peggy was still well enough to travel, he took her and the four boys on a four week motor tour of Europe. Jim and his wife Joan opened their Huntingdon Valley, PA and Brigantine, NJ homes to their children and children's friends and are credited with creating an environment that led to the marriage of several. The record was 25 teens staying overnight in sleeping bags at the shore house. Jim and Joan also served on committees to help the on-going tradition of decorating the gym at Upper Moreland HIgh School for the Senior Prom. The gym is always kept open before the Prom for large numbers of township residents to see the transformation of the space into Camelot or a Tropical Paradise.
He moved to Florida in 2005 to the retired Officers' community of Indian River Colony Club in Melbourne.
In 2006 he purchased a second home near Valley Forge at Regency at Providence to be near Dan in Dan's final illness.
A convert to Catholicism he had a deep faith in and love for God. For Confirmation he took the middle name of "John Neumann". Jim had a miracle at the intercession of Philadelphia's own saint, when on October 22, he was blessed with a relic of St. John Neumann and his "level 7" pain disappeared and never returned, even when the cancer had metastasized to his liver.
Jim had a brilliant mind, a quick wit, and the gift of humility. He was a boss who never "bossed", and was admired by all who knew him for his absolute integrity. He was an ardent sports fan of the Phillies, Eagles, and the "Fighting Illini". He also loved music and enjoyed concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was in attendance at the Academy of Music at the gala which introduced the new Millennium. He was an excellent dancer from ballroom and swing to modern dances taught him by his grandchildren. He drew an audience when he danced and made the arm movements to "YMCA".
He enjoyed bridge and played with two tables of friends for over thirty years. He was an avid tennis player when a slight heart problem caused him to stop. He then turned his attention to table tennis. His favorite sport was swimming, and his favorite hobby, reading.
Another hobby he enjoyed was wood-working. He made a Grandfather's clock, a free-form Redwood table which needed no nails, a Chippendale bench and many handsome book shelves to accomodate the family's book collections
He was cremated and burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
A Mass celebrating his life will be said at St. Ann's Chapel, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues on South Main Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460 on Saturday, May 1st,
at 11 o'clock. Visitation will take place at Campbell-Ennis-Klotz Funeral Home, Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Additional visitation is scheduled from 9:30 a.m.
until 10:30 a.m Saturday morning at the Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Monastery of the Visitation of Guadalupe, 5820 City Avenue, Phila.,PA 19131, or The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714, or The National Shrine of St. John Neumann at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle, 1013 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Anchors Aweigh, My Love!
www.dadhoward.blogspot.com Condolences may be made online at www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com