(May 13, 1931- January 14, 2023)
Howard was small in stature but left a lasting impression with anyone he met. A flash of his mischievous grin was inevitably followed by a gentle verbal poke. His interests were varied: music, art, kayaking, sailing, skiing, building, business, environmental activism, travel and of course, people. His careers also varied from undertaker to teacher to farmer. As a volunteer he was instrumental in creating Hospice Simcoe and its programs.
Howard was born in Windsor, ON. He was raised in St Thomas, living in an apartment in Williams Funeral Home with his parents Mona and Ernie, brother Don and sister Mona. He spent summer holidays at his grandparents’ cottage at Port Stanley and his Aunt Muriel’s cottage on Six Mile Lake. His early love of the water would lead to a lifetime of boating adventures whether sailing on Lake Erie, the schooner Bee or adventures with Barrie Canoe Club friends.
Howard met Judith Halls, his wife of 61 years, on a blind date while she was at Western University completing her nursing diploma in public health. Married in 1961, they built a family life of adventures big and small. They camped, skied and enjoyed the outdoors while raising three children. After living in several towns across Southern Ontario, they began their biggest adventure: the building of a log home and farm on 100 acres at Hillsdale.
Howard’s many careers and interests followed two themes: working with people and studying the world around him. Maybe that’s why teaching, whether it was at Barrie North Collegiate, with the Canoe Club, or with Hospice Simcoe was such a large part of his life. It involved people and communicating knowledge about our world to them. Sometimes he just needed to recharge that knowledge reservoir with many hours alone, observing, as he drove a tractor, paddled a kayak, or perfected a painting.
Howard leaves his wife Judith, children John (Suzanne), Martha (Jeff), Phil (Dorothyann) and grandchildren Jackson, Oliver, Curran, Solomon and Harrison. He is predeceased by his brother Don Williams and wife June, sisters-in-law Jacqueline Simpson and Alison Halls. He will be greatly missed by sister Mona McGill (Larry), sister-in-law Jane Gall (Donald), brothers-in-law Kent Halls, and James Simpson, and by many cherished extended family members and friends.
Much gratitude to all of the staff at Amica Little Lake for their kind and compassionate care over the last several years.
Donations can be made to Hospice Simcoe or the charity of your choice.
A celebration will be held at a later date.
Messages of condolence can be left at www.adamsfuneralhome.ca