Howard Wayne Dennis

Howard Wayne “Denny” Dennis was born on the 7th of November 1935, in Ithaca, New York, to Dorothy Burrows and Wilbert Chalmers “Denny” Dennis, and passed away on Pentecost Sunday, the 23rd of May 2021. He was 85 years of age.

Denny’s career as a geologist eventually moved the family to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he graduated from Byrd High School. He then attended Louisiana Tech University where he played on the golf team, and received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. While there, he had a blind date with a pretty gal by the name of Jeannine Cabaniss, and they were married a year later.

After graduation, Howard started his lengthy career in the oil industry at Texas Eastern Pipeline Company in 1958. Shortly thereafter, he served a two-year term of service at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, where he and Jeannine soon welcomed their first daughter, Katherine. After his discharge, they transferred to Houston, and later welcomed their second daughter, Anne.

For over 25 years, Howard worked at Gulf Oil, which was subsequently acquired by Chevron, where he retired in 1997.

Howard was an avid golfer and gardener, and loved to fish. He was kind, gentle and patient…a man of few words. He saved them up and would unexpectedly come out with sayings of wisdom and humor.

Howard was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Steve Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeannine; daughters, Kathy Zay and her husband Tom, and Anne Dennis; grandchildren, Thomas C. “Chip” Zay III and his wife Paige, Michael Dennis Zay and his fiancé Nicole Collins, and Sydney Chambers; siblings, Sally Lloyd, Tom Dennis, and Betsy Anderson.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Texas Children’s Cancer Center, 6701 Fannin St., Suite 1510.28, Houston, TX, 77030, Attn: Lisa McCoy.