Fredrick Dean Howard, 77, of Charleston, SC, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
He was born on July 23, 1940 in Shinglehouse, PA, to the late Wilma Hitchcock Howard and the late Leonard Howard.
Fred grew up in Mt. Jewett in northern Pennsylvania, where he was very proud to become an Eagle Scout at the same time as his younger brother, Bob. He attended school locally, and then obtained a scholarship to VPI (VA Tech) and graduated in 1963, with a BS in Chemical Engineering. During his time there, he was active in the VPI cave club, where he spent most of his time spelunking, but also did some rock climbing. He was very passionate about anything related to aviation, especially vintage aircraft. Fred also enjoyed flying model airplanes. He retired in 2002, after 23 years at Rhodia Chemical in Charleston, SC. Fred’s family will remember him as a loving husband, father, PopPop, brother and friend.
Besides his parents, Fred is predeceased by his wife, Earline V. Howard and a stepson, James Hudson.
He will be missed by his loving wife of 15 years, Colleen Brooks Howard; daughter, Kelly Ledford (Jeremy); two sons: Steven Howard (Stacy) and James Howard; six grandchildren: Timothy, Victoria, Stephanie and Natalie Howard; and Caleb and Emma Ledford, all of Charleston, SC; brother, Robert Howard (Peggy) of St. Mary’s, PA.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 12, 2017, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home West Ashley Chapel.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, August 13, 2017, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1400 Manor Blvd., Charleston, SC 29414.
Memorial contributions may be made to Food for the Hungry online at https://www.fh.org/gift-catalog.
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.
Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, West Ashley Chapel, 2501 Bees Ferry Road Charleston, South Carolina, 29414, 843-722-8371.