Dr. John R. Howard

Born to Raymond E. and Amy H. (Harbour) Howard on October 28, 1926 in Bennington, Vermont, he is survived by his wife Mary Lohmar Howard of Edelstein, his daughter Dawn (Steven) Berard of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and his son Joel R. (Cynthia) Howard of Newark, Vermont. He is also survived by two granddaughters Brooke (Robert) Colombie and Lee Mikel Howard of Pownal, Vermont, by four grandsons Jason (Licia) Berard of North Thetford, Vermont, Joel (Clare) Howard of Pownal, Vermont, Dane (Ari) Berard of San Diego, California, and Trever (Renee) Howard of Bennington, Vermont, eleven great grandchildren, and his brother Frederick Howard of Oakland, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Reginald, and his granddaughter Jody Berard.

After receiving his early education in Vermont and serving in the United States Marine Corps toward the end of World War II, he moved to Peoria where he later graduated from Bradley University with a B.A. and also an M A. He still later earned an L.L.B. from Blackstone School of Law and then a Ph.D. from American University. As a young man he served as Superintendent of the Gift Avenue Home for Children and later as Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of Peoria County before joining the faculty of International Studies at Bradley in 1963.

During his long teaching career at Bradley, he served as Director of its Institute of International Studies, as President of its chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and as Chairman of the University Senate. He also taught for many years in its European Summer Semester. Elected as a “Red Hot Prof” by Bradley students, he was cited for outstanding service by the University Board of Trustees, and was also a recipient of the Mergan Public Service award. Professor Howard was a member of the Federation of Scholars as well as a number of scholastic honor societies. He also authored or edited a number of books on foreign policy or world affairs.

He participated in the Scholar/Diplomat Seminar at the Department of State, attended various symposia at the National Defense University, and studied at the United Nations. He also undertook on-site study in Germany, Russia, and China. With his wife he traveled widely in North and South America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia.

He was a founder of Youth Farm where he served fifty years on its Board of Directors, six as its president. He was also a board member of the Crittenton Care and Counseling Center and of Homes, Inc. An early member of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council, he served as its president; and he was active in the Peoria-Tazewell County Heart Association of which he was also president. A member of his home-town Masonic Lodge for over sixty years and a past commander of the Bennington American Legion post, he was also a member of the Peoria Lions Club where he twice served as president and more recently was made a Melvin Jones Fellow for “dedicated humanitarian service.”

Funeral services will be held at Peoria’s First United Methodist Church on NE. Perry on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:00 with Reverend Robert Phillips officiating. Visitation will precede the funeral on January 13 at 10:00 A.M in the Church parlor. Burial will be in Roberts Cemetery in Morton. Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Peoria, the Peoria Lions Club, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Please visit John’s Story at www.woolsey-wilton.com.