Fred Jay Howard Jr.

Our beloved Dad and Grandpa Fred went home to be with his Lord and Savioron Wednesday, August 14, 2013. Fred Jay Howard, Jr. was born on Dec. 4, 1926 in Compton, CA to Epsie Janeand Fred Jay Howard, Sr. He spent the majority of his youth in Anaheim, CA andmoved to Wasco when in high school. He attended USC and graduated fromFresno State University. He proudly served in the US Navy where he was stationedin Maryland and the Philippines. While Fred was in the Navy, he was at Bass Lake on leave when he met a cute16-year-old, Patsy Ann Thornburgh. Surprisingly, her parents let him take her outon a date. Six years later they met again in Bakersfield, CA. At that time Fred wasworking as a State Farm Insurance agent and Pat was a first year teacher. They wedon June 21, 1953. They were blessed with 51 years of marriage. The love of thatmarriage brought two daughters, Janie and Judy. Family was the most important thing to Fred. Both Fred and Pat's parents livedlocally and shared in a close-knit family life. Treasured family memories centeraround holidays, birthdays, trailering at the beach, the cabin, music, training andshowing dogs. Later in retirement Fred and Pat enjoyed traveling in both the USand abroad. Fred became an independent insurance agent and purchased Center InsuranceAgency in the 60's. He retired from there in the 80's. He was a member of FirstPresbyterian Church. Fred was preceded in death by his older sister, Margaret Jane Howard (whodied when she was 12), his parents, Fred Jay Howard, Sr. and Epsie Jane BrownHoward, his son-in-law, Dan Raymond Quisenberry and his beloved wife PatsyAnn Thornburgh Howard in 2004. Fred is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Janie and Larry Stone; hisdaughter and son-in-law, Judy and Rob Ferguson; grandchildren: Alysia Metcalf,David Quisenberry and his wife Camillia, and Lauren Ferguson;great-granddaughters Kiersten, Astraea and Verona. Fred struggled with health issues for the last 15 years and yet his sense ofhumor and witty comments remained a constant. He was blessed to have manyloving caregivers. His family would especially like to thank the wonderfulcaregivers at Westchester Home who have faithfully cared for him in recent yearsand Hoffman Hospice. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 170517th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or International Essential Tremor Foundation,PO Box 14005, Lenexa, KS 66285-4005 or Hoffman Hospice, 8501 Brimhall Road,Bakersfield, CA 93312.

Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at HillcrestMemorial Park.