Kenneth Eugene Howes

We give thanks and praise to God for the 97 years of life of Kenneth “Ken” Eugene Howes, of Metairie, Louisiana, who entered fullness of life in the presence of our Lord on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Joan Peralta Howes and their four daughters; Kathy Leader, Jan Mairn, Cindy Lowe, and Wendy Sellier and their families - which include 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Ken Howes was born on September 5, 1926, of Bert and Eulalie Howes, and grew up on their family farm in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his brother, Bert Howes and his grandson, Thurman “Rion” Lowe, III.

After graduating Ponchatoula High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces on September 4, 1944, and proudly served as a Sargent, aerial engineer in Munich, Germany during WWII. He went on to go to Garner School in New Orleans to become an accountant. He was the first man in Louisiana to ever be awarded full custody of two of his daughters, Kathy and Jan. The happiest day of his life was when he met the love of his life, Joan. Together they raised their four daughters and built a beautiful life together.

Some of their many life adventures included traveling the world, building four aviation corporations, including Transit Aviation of New Orleans, and working side by side together for 31 years. They owned several racehorses, planes, and were invited to the White House numerous times by sitting Presidents. Their life was not only a wealth of wonderful successes, travel, patriotism and adventures, but also rich in faith, happiness, and undying love and devotion between them.

Anyone who was lucky enough to meet Ken knows he was never short of: stories, known as “Ken Howes Stories” and luck, known as “Ken Howes Luck.” He was a great, devoted, kind, generous and truly one-of-a-kind man who will be missed beyond words can measure.

The family would like to thank Heart of Hospice for their care during Ken’s time of need.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023 at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Metairie, LA. Visitation will be held from 9 AM – 11 AM with a service to begin at 11 AM. Interment will follow at Howes Cemetery in Ponchatoula, LA.