Robert Bowman Howe Jr. of Gloucester Point, Virginia, died on October 22, 2024. He was born on May 16, 1937 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert Bowman Howe and Jane Messimer Howe. Bob was also predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Jennie M. Stokes Howe of Gloucester Point. He is survived by his sons, Glenn of Sherman Oaks, California, and Robert of Longmont, Colorado; his sister, Margery H. Winsett (Ronald) of Bonita Springs, Florida; one grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
Bob graduated from Collingswood High School in New Jersey in 1955, and USMA at West Point in 1959. The U.S. Army lacrosse team had a national championship season in ’58 and ’59 when Bob was a first-string defenseman. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and earned his wings in airborne and flight school. He served as a fixed wing aviator in Korea, as a company commander of the 582nd transportation company in Germany and had two tours as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam (1966 with the first cavalry division in An Khe and in 1969 with the first transport battalion). For his service in Vietnam, Bob was awarded five medals, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. While in military service he earned an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 1966 and following military service he earned an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971.
Bob worked from 1972 until his retirement for the Defense Logistics Agency at Bellwood, Virginia. He retired from civil service in May 1992 with 35 years’ service.
He and Jennie moved to Gloucester Point where he could enjoy fishing, his favorite activity ever since his father gave him a fishing rod the day he was born. Bob also enjoyed volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 64, building small boats and model planes, Gloucester Area Model Aeronautics, AARP tax preparers, the ham radio club, the Community Emergency Response Team, Waterview Homeowners Association, NARFE, and helping host visitors to the “Historic Triangle.” Bob had a rare combination of intelligence and strength with kindness and humility. He is recorded in the hearts of everyone who knew him.
The burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Blackstone, Virginia. As Bob believed, “the spirit of a person goes on to his God-given next assignment.”