Joseph David Howard

Joseph David Howard, Dave, as he was known, was born on February 13, 1925, in Jacksonville, Georgia. He slipped peacefully into eternity on June 26, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had 7 brothers and 4 sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Hershel Howard and Julia Bell (Bolin); his brothers, Harvey, Hubert, Jim, Gene and Jack; his sisters, Ivy, Pat and Margaret; his son, David Thomas “Tom” Howard; son-in-law, Dan Mortell; granddaughter, Crystal Mortell; and wife of 62 years of marriage, Dorothy “Dolly”(Burns) Howard, who passed away on September 14, 2010.

During his younger years, he resided in the vicinity of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He eventually moved to California and resided for more than 40 years in the LaMirada and Rowland Heights area. He co-owned H&H Manufacturing and Howard Reflectors in Bell Gardens. He sold the metal spinning and lamp business and retired to Las Vegas, NV in 1999. Dave served in the Navy on the USS Biloxi Destroyer Ship and was discharged in 1945. The “Biloxi”, saw every major battle in the South Pacific during WW II. He was a local hero, shooting down several Japanese kamikazes that were enroute to bomb the “Biloxi”.

Dave also loved his horses, Sally and Clementine, and was disappointed when he could not take them with him to Las Vegas. His health would no longer permit him to ride and it was very disappointing to him.

Dave loved hunting and fishing. He owned Howard Duck Club in Wasco, California until the lake where it was situated dried up. Until he was unable to do so, he traveled to Mississippi each year to go deer hunting with his good friends, Otis and Roe Lowry. The family benefitted by these trips and feasted on venison for many days, due to his hunting expertise. One of his greatest memories was going on a buffalo hunt. His trophy, a bison head, adorned the wall at his business.

Chuck Latshaw, Dave’s brother-in-law, and Dave hunted each season. Whether it was for duck, deer or wild game, they would be the first ones out in the field. Fishing season found them in Mexico, fishing from the big boats or from the shore. They were great friends and truly enjoyed each others company. If one went hunting, they both went hunting, and bragged about who caught the biggest fish or who shot the biggest deer. Dave became the male figure to the Latshaw girls, Sharon, Joanne and Roxanne when Chuck suddenly passed away in 1967. Chuck’s wife Elizabeth “Bettie” Latshaw was very close to the Howard family.

He is survived by his brothers, Carl (wife, Dee), Frank (wife, Cookie); sister, Ruby (Curtis); son, Joseph David Howard Jr., (wife, JoAnn); and two daughters, Julia “Carlene” Howard Mortell and Joyce Marie Howard Sailer (husband, Mike); five grandchildren, Ticia Mortell Lands (husband, Jerry), Joseph David Howard III (wife, Misty), Patrick Howard, Danielle Howard and Christopher Howard; six great- grandchildren, Saydee Mortell Alger, Carlee Lands, Sarah Lands, Dean Lands, Krystin Howard and Joseph David Howard IV; and one great-great-grandson, Jaymee Otis Moore. His daughter Joyce reared Tressie and her children, Lyna and Mathew, who Dave thought of as his own grandchildren.

He was a good ole Mississippi man, and a southern gentleman. He was a business man, hunter, horse and dog lover, fisherman and most of all a family man and friend to all. He touched the hearts of many and will truly be missed.

Graveside Services will on held on Saturday, July 16, at 1:00 p.m. at Rose Hills, Whittier, CA.