I just happened on this obit. Mr Lininger was my band teacher for 3 years and he made a difference in my life. He was an amazing talent and an outstanding teacher. We had a lot of fun in that class too. RIP Mr Lininger

Howard was a neighbor, fellow church member, friend, and supporter of missions for as long as I can remember. Green Road in New Haven was our common geographic center for life for many, many years and Jesus was our common spiritual center that oriented our lives together! He is a friend and partner that left a fingerprint on my life that will stick with me till I see him in heaven with our good Lord.

I first met Mr. Lininger – he will always be Mr. Lininger to me – sometime in late 1962, or perhaps early 1963, when those of us who had passed song flute class were given the option of selecting an instrument and joining the band. That day began a long, meaningful friendship that continued until an hour and a half long session we had in Fort Wayne last fall. He was in the same good form that I have always remembered him to be in; I am very glad to have had that session.
Not long after that first meeting, we began a series of Tuesday after-school private lessons that continued until I graduated from New Haven High School in the spring of 1970. Those weekly lessons meant a lot to me; thereafter, as time passed, I began to fully realize what those sessions meant to my life as a whole.
Those of us who attended Village Woods Elementary School, and later New Haven High, had many very, very, good, even great, teachers. Mr. Lininger was a music teacher, and band director, and a private lesson teacher; all roles performed to a great standard. 
But my session with him last fall reminded me of something else. I realized that he was not just a teacher, he was an Educator. His goal was to educate in a way that would stay with us forever, whether we continued playing our instruments or not. He was teaching skills that would help in ways we might never realize began with him. He was giving us a pathway to lifetime success. He filled our entire mind, not merely the musical brain cells, with lessons that he innately knew we should have. My last session with him was in a sense a final lesson, one that came from a very skillful Educator. 
To the family and friends of Mr. Lininger, I mourn with you; I also celebrate with you the fact that Mr. Lininger was in our lives for such a long meaningful time.
Steve Koch

Dear Lininger Family,

My sincere sympathy is extended to all of you in your great loss of Howard Lininger.  My family and I have known him over 60 years as we met when he was my band director at New Haven High School and since I played trombone he helped the brass section - and was very talented.
He also directed the choir at Immanuel Baptist Church where my late husband and I sang in the choir.  In His later years he and his wife came to North Park Community Church.

Both your parents blessed my heart in many ways and I respected them for their great musical talent as well as biblical knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I miss them - however look forward to being reunited in heaven.  

Numbers 6:24-26
'“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you.

Joyfully In His Service,
Katherine (Kay) Disher

Mr. Lininger was my band director at Clear Creek High School, Huntington, In.  He was a great director and I learned a lot from him.  He was also a great person.

"Bowser down and give me 20" were the words I heard most often.  I wasn't good at standing at attention.  I remember after winning the band competition and moving on to regionals.  All the practices, bus trips , and special moments with all the band mates.  We were a special group that respected our elders, well, except for the push ups, and still had fun.  HOWIE, I will miss you!!  Thanks for the band memories that I will carry with me forever!

I had the privilege of meeting Howie this past fall after heart valve surgery. Howie's room was across from mine at Lutheran life villages pine valley. We ate at the same table and he invited me into his room to see his many paintings. He was doing dog paintings for several nurses there. After I went home my husband drove me over to see the art show that Howie held and it was very impressive. My sincere condolences to his family and the sweet little dog that visited him often.  Love that I met Howie!    Linda Smith

Know that our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Howard was an inspiration to me as a fellow member of the FWACB trumpet section. May he rest in peace and be an active member of the Angel Gabriel's heavenly trumpet section.

Vince and Marty LaBarbera

I enjoyed working with Howie at Village Woods Jr. Hi. and New Haven High School. I also fortunate to have some of his kids and grand kids in classes at New Haven High School. 
If our Father has  a band there in Glory, I know who will be 1st Chair in the trumpet section! 🎺  I was in the band at Leo High School, but was far from a virtuoso! At NISBOVA contests it was kind of understood  that when we did the sight read playing, I should finger the notes but not play too loudly… or at all! 🤐
It was a pleasure knowing Howie, and I’ll see him again when I make my transition to be with Jesus!

OBITUARY

Howard "Howie" George Lininger

October 23, 1930 – February 13, 2025

D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Maplewood Park

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