Tributes

Lester B. Howard July 9, 1924 – December 23, 2014 Lester Burl Howard passed away December 23, 2014. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dorothy Alice. Lester and his twin sister, Lessie Pearl, were born July 9, 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Milton and Dora Hill Howard. Through determination and his love of playing football, he graduated from high school just in time to enter the Army for WWII. He served mostly outside the country in the Pacific Theater. His first combat was to have been the invasion of the Japanese home islands. His troop ship was 100 miles off the coast when Japan surrendered. While waiting to be demobilized at Camp Bullis, he meet Dorothy Alice Hodges at the base swimming pool. After being discharged, he returned to Texas and married her – still in his Army uniform. They moved to Tuscaloosa where he attended the University of Alabama and became the first in his family to graduate college in 1949 with a bachelors and masters degree. He went on to earn an additional education-related masters degree. He was the coach for the school in Pineapple, AL for a year before moving to San Antonio in 1950. He had a nearly 40 year career in education as a teacher, coach and administrator. His favorite subject was history and he loved coaching basketball, leading teams from Rhodes Junior High to the city championship. Lester was deeply committed to the activities he was involved in, typically ending up in leadership roles. He was a Scouter for several decades, first volunteering as a Cub Scoutmaster and leading all three of his sons to the rank of Eagle Scout. He then served at the district level producing events as well as leading and training both adults and boys. Some of his awards included District Award of Merit, Scouter's Key, Wood Badge, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor, and the Silver Beaver. He also served for many years in Free Masonry serving actively first at the lodge level and then in higher positions. He put his amazing memory and patience to good use for many years training men in Masonry's memory work. He was a Master Mason, in the Sons of Hiram, and a Life & Endowed Member of Triune No. 15 Lodge. His greatest passion for service, though, was to Christ. He was the lay leader of his church for many years as well as leading an adult Sunday School Class and served on many committees. He became involved in the Emmaus movement and served on many weekend teams bringing the basics of Christianity to the participants. He also was the Leader on several of these teams. Through Emmaus, he got involved in the associated prison ministry, Kairos, which became his greatest passion in his later years. He participated in and/or lead the weekends at the Torres and Briscoe prison units many times to bring encouragement and Jesus to the men in white, many of whom came to love him. He is survived by his twin sister Lessie Hutchins and sister-in-law Betty Howard of Tuscaloosa, AL. Also surviving are his four children: John Linda, Michael Elizabeth, Linda Sowdal, and David Chae Sun as well as eight grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. He was a strong father, a loving husband, and a great friend. He was a living example of how Christ taught us to live. Visitation will be held from 2-5 PM Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. Church services will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, Jan 2, 2015 at St John's UMC at 2002 Bandera Road in San Antonio. Interment to follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 PM. There will be a reception at the church after the burial.

Tributes

Lester B. Howard

July 9, 1924 - December 23, 2014