Ernest Kenton Howard

E. Kenton Howard, 90, longtime resident of Manchester, died on February 15, 2014 at Villa Crest Nursing Home in Manchester. He was born in Milford on May 26, 1923, a son of Wells A. and Isabel (Peters) Howard. He was raised and educated in Milford and graduated from Milford High School in 1941. Upon graduating, Mr. Howard went to work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut, until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. After lengthy training he was commissioned second lieutenant and received his wings on April 15, 1944. He served in Italy as a B-24 pilot in the 376th Bomb Group, 512th Bomb Squadron. After the war he joined the Army reserves and retired in 1983 with the rank of captain. In 1945, he married Norma R. Center of Wilton. They were married for 56 years. Mr. Howard began his career designing homes for the Amoskeag Bank and then worked for the City of Manchester as the engineer for the Board of Assessors. He became a construction examiner for the Federal Housing Administration and HUD until retiring in 1978. Following his retirement, he served as a consultant to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority until 1988. Mr. Howard was an avid sportsman, and loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. He enjoyed summers on Lake Winnipesaukee with his family in a home that he designed and built. He was a talented furniture maker and an avid collector of stamps, coins, and antique bottles. He was predeceased by his wife, daughters Brenda E. Howard and Donna Howard, and brother, William E. Howard. Family members include two sons, Kevin Howard of Moultonborough and Gary Howard and his wife Sandra of Manchester; a daughter, Dawn Pappas and her husband Arthur of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Alyssa Zink, Christopher Pappas, Sarah Howard, Robert Howard, Scott Howard, Jessica Howard, and Emily Howard; many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Funeral services are private. The family invites friends and acquaintances to join them at the Puritan Conference Center on Wednesday, February 19th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.