By Staff
Mr. Thomas “Tom” Richard Howard, age 64, a resident of 1025 Swan Point Reef, Washington, NC died Saturday September 19, 2009.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday September 23, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church in Washington officiated by Rev. Danny Allen. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.
Tom’s nephews and friends of his sons will serve as pallbearers: John Ashley Howard, Jason Andrew Howard, Christopher Glenn Bailey, Stephen Kyle Simmerman, Tyler Johnson and Kevin McCutcheon.
Tom was born in Whiteville, NC on January 18, 1945, son of the late Rev. Odell Tull Howard and Nellie Louise Lynch. He graduated from East Carolina College (now East Carolina University) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Tom finished college before he entered the Army. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
After his discharge from the Army, Tom worked as an appraiser with the N.C. Department of Transportation in Raleigh for several years until he transferred to the district office in Greenville. This is where he met his wife, Connie. Soon after marrying in 1977, they moved to Washington, Connie’s hometown, where Tom embraced the town and its people.
After moving to Washington, Tom left the Department of Transportation to establish his own appraisal business. In 1989, he received the designation of Senior Residential Appraiser of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. In 1991, Tom became a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. He was also a member of The Appraisal Institute. Tom’s son, Andrew, joined his Dad in the business and they had worked together for the past three years.
Tom was devoted to preserving the river as well as the historical integrity and quality of life in both Washington and Beaufort County. His passion led him to being one of the founding members of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation and an original board member. He remained on the board for 24 years from 1981-2005. Also, Tom was the third president, serving two terms as president, as well as two terms as vice-president and was treasurer for many years. Those involved will also remember him for all of the 22 years of making the annual oyster roast fundraiser such a great success.
Also, Tom was a charter member of the Partnership for the Sounds, which begin in 1994, and remained on the board until the present. He was very active in the development and fundraising for the North Carolina Estuarium and was on the steering committee for the design and construction of the building as well as the interior conception.
His interest in preserving Washington’s historical character led him to partner with his close friend, Larry Boyd, to convert the old Washington Tobacco Company and the National Guard Armory into apartments.
Above all else, Tom loved and cherished his family, which was his driving force in his life.
Tom is survived by his wife, Connie, of the home; his children: Andrew Lane Howard and his wife, Shelly Amber Howard of Washington; Joel Thomas Howard of Greenville; grandchild to be: Jackson Andrew Howard; his sisters: Bonnie Simmerman and her husband, Kyle of Jonesborough, TN; Betty Jo Bailey of Franklin Springs, GA and Rachel Sorrow and her husband, James also of Franklin Springs, GA; sister in law, Linda Howard of Greenville; father and mother-in-law: Harold and Louise Lane of Washington; sister in law, Jo Ann Whitaker of Blounts Creek and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother: Merritt Jerome Howard.
The family received friends at the home, 1025 Swan Point Reef, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pamlico Tar River Foundation, P.O. Box 1854, Washington, N.C. 27889, the North Carolina Estuarium, 223 East Water Street, Washington, N.C. 27889 or First United Methodist Church, 304 West 2nd Street, Washington, N.C. 27889.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is privileged to serve the Howard family.
Paid Obituary