Howard A. Shryock Jr.

On Sunday, February 4, 2018, Howard Shryock Jr., 93, beloved husband, father, and brother, passed away after a brief illness. Howard will be forever remembered by his wife and best friend, Barbara, and their children, Alan (Lee), Jon (Lezette), and Lu Ann (Randy) Rexroat, and by his brother and sister, Stanley and Janet (Terry) Northcutt, and his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and dear friends.

Born in Sharon, Oklahoma to Howard and Neva Shryock, he was raised in various small towns throughout NW Oklahoma, always attending the school at which his parents taught. He attended Oklahoma A&M for one semester, but the lure of a career with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (predecessor of the Federal Aviation Administration), prompted him to leave college and attend Radio School in Tonkawa. After graduating, he began his career with the (now) FAA. During World War II he volunteered for a post with the Navy, working as a Civilian Technician at the Naval base in Trinidad. In his later years, he would often recall stories of his early years with the CAA in Anton-Chico, NM and his time in Trinidad. After his time with the Navy, Howard continued his career with the CAA/FAA until he retired as Assistant Chief of the Flight Service Station at Wiley Post Airport in 1978.

In 1950, he met the love of his life and proudly became her husband the following year. They had four children and raised them with loving care, always trying to instill in them the Christian faith and values with which he was raised. When his boys were young, he would often participate in their church activities or with their Boy Scout troops. Later on, after a daughter was born, it would be quipped that he took up a permanent position wrapped around her little finger.

Throughout his life, Howard had several passions and interests. First and foremost was his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which was followed closely by his love for his wife and his children. Always active in church and gifted with a rich bass singing voice, he sang in the church choir for many years.

When he began flying fixed-wing aircraft in his late teens, it created a love of flying that lasted the rest of his life even though a heart condition grounded him in 1978. After that, he began flying radio-controlled scaled models, which was an activity he would sometimes enjoy with his sons. With Barbara, and occasionally his daughter, Lu Ann, as his partner, he enjoyed square dancing for many years and belonged to a couple of different square dancing clubs.

His interest in cars led him to open an automotive shop with his oldest son after he retired from the FAA. Together with his son, Gordon, he would continue to own and operate the business until they closed it many years later and he retired for the second time. His interest in cars, especially Ford vehicles, reached a whole new level when he purchased the first of two antique cars, a 1948 Mercury 4 Door Sedan, and he and Barbara joined the Early Ford V8 Club of America. Together they enjoyed many social activities and trips with the club and remained active right up until his death, despite having parted with the cars a few years prior. He and Barbara loved to travel and together they managed to visit most of the 50 states and take several trips abroad with one of his favorites being their trip to the Holy Lands.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Howard Sr. and Neva, and by his eldest son, Gordon.