Bobby Ray Howard

Bob was ninth of ten children born to the late Jewel Lockhart and Oscar James Howard in Pine Mountain Valley, Georgia on Friday, November 13, 1942. Preceding him in death were his siblings, Louise Daniel, Florrie Mae Pilcher, James Howard, Mary Ann Howard, Eugene Howard and Frances Osborne. Bob grew up in a large loving family who all worked hard making a living at farming and working in the cotton mills in South Georgia. He did his share, even as a child, working in the cotton fields and peach orchards and gave his small earnings to his mother to help with food on the table and bills. They moved to Columbus, Georgia where he attended Jordan High School. In January 1961 after he turned 18 years old, he and his best buddy Jerry joined the Air Force together without telling their parents. Bob made a phone call to his sweet Mother telling her what he had done and then they were boarded on a bus to Limestone, Maine. His 16 years of military life in Food Service allowed him travels around the world to several countries, which he was truly grateful to experience. He served one year in Vietnam and returned to the states to Warner Robins, Georgia. There he met his first wife, Marilyn and they became parents to Michael and Kymberlee. After their tour of service in Germany they were stationed in New Mexico. Bob left the Air Force in January 1977 and during the next seven years he tried various jobs which included masonry work, meat plant, and managing a convenience store. In 1984 Bob relocated to his Georgia home with his mother and became single again. Bob and Betty were married November 15, 1985 and had almost 36 years of many blessings and trials. Bob worked in delivery services for Krispy Kreme, Eagle Snacks, Toms and Colonial Bakery and then eleven years with Old Dominion Freight Lines driving a fork lift, retiring in 2008. He became bored and took a part time job at Food Depot working nights stocking dairy, which he loved and really hated to leave due to his health. In November 2000, Bob was a patient in the hospital about to have single bypass surgery when Terry Hash and Tim Luke from Eagles Landing First Baptist visited and witnessed to him. God saved Bob there in St. Joseph's Hospital and he became a new person. When he recovered from surgery he began attending church with Betty and was baptized. He became a greeter and was well known for his warm bear hugs, his humor and his fabulous pancakes. He cooked pancakes for the class in Legacy Senior Group on few occasions. His favorites passions were golf and fishing with his buddies. He loved life, family and friends more than himself and he will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Bob's hugs and humor were priceless...

Survivors are: wife of almost 36 years, Betty Wells Howard; son, Michael Baird and daughter, Kymberlee Baird of Amarillo, TX; sisters, Mary Sue Amoresano of Columbus, GA, Margaret Montgomery of McDonough, GA; brother, William David (Donna) Howard of Plant City, FL; children, Dave (Kim) Howard of Cape Coral, FL, Dena (Frank) Ibarra of Stockbridge, GA, Denise (William) Perra of Winder, GA; grandchildren, Jessica (Shawn) Biddle, April (Anthony) Haney, Rachel (Rody) Inestroza, Michael Rose, Jr. and Dalton Howard; two beautiful great granddaughters...Jade Haney (3) and Reese Biddle (4 months) and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 - 1:00 PM at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church Main Sanctuary. Friends may visit the family one hour prior to the service at the church.