George W. Howe

George Whitfield Howe, of Palm Desert, CA, formerly of Longmont, died Friday, May 2, 2008, at Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA. He was 75.George was born May 20, 1932, in Boulder, CO, to George W. Howe, Sr. and Rubye C. Ahlberg Howe. George spent his formative years in Boulder. He enjoyed swimming from a young age, learning the sport at the Hygienic pool in downtown Boulder. He eventually worked as a lifeguard at Sunset Pool in Longmont, and later at the Eldorado Springs Pool.The family moved to Longmont in 1945. George took up caddying at Sunset Golf Course. This job would provide him some of his greatest enjoyments throughout his life. He took up the game of golf at Sunset, participating on the Longmont High School team and later at Colorado A&M. He was a member of the Men's Club at Sunset Golf Course, Fox Hill Country Club, where he served as President, and the Kona Country Club.He attended his sophomore year at Longmont High School, Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri his junior year, and graduated from Longmont High School in 1950. In 1954, he graduated from Colorado A&M in Fort Collins with a BA in Business. On June 13 that same year, he married Jean Walrod at the First Lutheran Church in Longmont.While attending college, George was involved in R.O.T.C. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army as Second Lieutenant in 1955, and was discharged as First Lieutenant in 1957.Upon returning to Longmont, he joined his father at the Howe Mortuary. He left shortly after to fulfill his degree at the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. In 1958, he returned to Longmont to manage the mortuary. He purchased the business from his father in 1960.George loved Longmont and immediately took an active interest in his community. A member of First Lutheran Church, he was on the church council for a number of years and Sunday school teacher for the high school youth group. He served as President of the Longmont Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Clubs. He was involved in forming the Downtown Development Association and Heart of Longmont. George was excited to have been part of the groundbreaking ceremonies at IBM and helping form what would become Longmont's first industrial park. He was President of the Longmont United Way and was involved in merging the organizations of the Boulder and Longmont United Ways. Active in the Republican Party for many years, he served as a precinct committeeman. He was appointed by Governor John Love to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives upon the death of member, John Mackie. George served as President of the Colorado Funeral Directors. He was a member of the Board of Directors for Longmont United Hospital for six years, serving as their Treasurer. A member of the Board of Directors of Golden Savings and Loan, he helped open the Longmont office, later merging with First Federal Savings Bank of Denver, where he continued to serve on the board.George was involved with a numerous business ventures through the years. He was a partner in Longmont Memorials for several years. He owned and operated Dowlite Burial Vault Co., operating in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Kansas. He also owned and operated Foothills Gardens of Memory in Longmont. Partnering with his brother, Bill, he owned and operated Chapel Hill Mortuary in Littleton, CO.In 1986, George sold the mortuary to his son, Geoffrey. He and Jean fell in love with Hawaii and spent many wonderful years of retirement in Kona. He enjoyed golfing, reading, traveling, and most of all, spending time with his children and grandchildren. He and Jean took an active role in building their church home in Hawaii.Preceding him in death were his brothers, Edward and Dr. John Howe.Surviving are his beloved wife of 53 years, Jean, of Palm Desert, CA; four sons, Geoffrey of Longmont, Bradley (Anne) of Denver, Blake (Rhonda), of Reno, NV, and Mark (Sandra) of Moorpark, CA; a brother, William (Amy) of Boulder; six grandchildren; Andrew Whitfield of Longmont, Mia Marie and Kira Jean of Moorpark, CA, Ava Moore and Claire Rubye of Denver, and Reygan Gene of Reno, NV.A private interment will be held at Longmont Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2008 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Longmont, with Reverend Steve Berke officiating.Contributions may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, 77-165 Lako Street, Kailua-Kona, HI, 96740 or First Evangelical Lutheran Church, c/o Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501.Please share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.