DANIEL JAMES HOWARD

Daniel James Howard, age 69, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at his home.Born June 25, 1943, in Warsaw, IN, he was the son of James Boyce and Helen Lucille (Fisher) Howard.

He graduated from Warsaw High School with the Class of 1961. After graduation, he honorably served in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He earned an Associate's degree from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis. On September 5, 1965 he married Ouida Sue Crum in Kossuth, MS. In 1970, he worked as a cable splicer for United Telephone, Warsaw; was a former employee of Ripley Funeral Home, Ripley, MS and McHatton-Sadler Funeral Home, Warsaw; he worked in the pressroom and bindery for Light & Life Press, Winona Lake; worked as an emergency medical technician for Warsaw Multi-Township; and worked as a packager at Zimmer, Warsaw, July, 1988 until his retirement in 2006. For the past 18 years, he and his wife lived in Columbia City, he was also a former resident of Winona Lake, IN and Ripley, MS. He was a member of the Arcola Lion's Club and he was an American Softball Association Umpire; he coached city and church softball teams in Kosciusko County; was an Eagle Scout; served as a Winona Lake volunteer firefighter; was an usher at the University of Notre Dame football games; was a volunteer at Parkview Hospital, Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne; was a member of New Hope Wesleyan Church and the Churubusco American Legion.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Sue Howard of Columbia City; children, Michelle R. (Joel) Roberson of Bloomington, Brooke L. (Rob) Bennett of Warsaw and Lincoln D. (Marisa) Howard of Avon; 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; sister, Janet Chiddister of Warsaw; and 1 nephew. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 16, 2012 from 4-8 p.m. with a Lion's Memorial Service at 7:30 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with one hour of calling prior to service at New Hope Wesleyan Church, 971 N 400 W, Columbia City. Pastors Jason Tash and Barry Faucett officiating. Graveside military honors will be presented by the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Honor Guard with burial at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Memorial gifts may be given in Mr. Howard's memory to New Hope Wesleyan Church or the Arcola Lion's Club. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the online guest register book.