- Date Of Birth: January 8, 1925
- Date Of Death: September 2, 2009
- State: New Mexico
JOHN WILLIAM HOWDEN passed away on September 2, 2009 at his home in Roswell, NM. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. As a child, he moved to Wood River, Ill where he finished high school and enlisted in the army in 1943. He served in the 17th airborne
ision. During his tour, he participated in three major battles, Central Europe, Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity. After one and a half years in Europe he was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to Wood River where he entered the University of Southern Illinois. He met and married his wife Jerry Coale Howden. Together they had three children.
In 1959 he moved his family to Corpus Christi, Texas and worked for the United States Postal service. They lived in Corpus for 12 years then moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico and stayed there for the next 30 years. John worked as a licensed contractor. He was a member of the Lyons Club, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and St. Eleanors Catholic Church.
All of his life he was interested in helping the youth of America. He was a little league coach, a Boy Scout leader, and he ran the Rotary Foreign Exchange Program for 10 years. He was also a counselor at camp RYLA Ruidoso Youth Leadership program for 3 years.
In 1998 he and his wife retired to Roswell, NM where they lived until he passed away. He is survived by his wife Jerry of 62 years, and daughters, Sue Ellen Friberg and her husband John, of Mesquite, Tx, Donna Lynn Conaway and her husband Joe of Valley Mills, Tx., and Jean Marie Snyder and her husband Britt of Roswell, NM. Grandchildren, John Hamilton and wife Nikki of Ceder Hill, Tx, Sherie Gunter and husband Billy of Rowlett, Tx, Rusty Conaway of Valley Mills, Tx, Christopher and Wesley Snyder of Roswell, NM, 4 step-grand children and 5 great grandchildren. His sister Doris Dodson from Alton, Ill., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and untold people who think of him as father, friend and teacher. He is preceded in death by his parents 2 brother, and sister.
