Howard Paul Blauser

Howard Paul Blauser passed away Sunday, August 16th, 2026, in Winder, GA. He was born September 28, 1946, the only child of Earl Clinton Blauser and Lyda Belle Hendren Blauser in Oil City, PA. Howard is survived by his wife, Sue Anne Long Blauser, who he married June 4, 1966, in DuBois, PA. His six surviving children are: Laura Jeanne Miessner of Dawsonville, GA, Jay Andrew Blauser of Alexander, NC, Wendy Sue Blauser de Rosario of Winder, GA, Amy Elaine Miller of Macomb, IL, Bryce Howard Blauser of Palmetto, GA and Keri Anne Troyer of Lewisburg, WV. Howard was the proud grandfather of 15 living grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his infant grandson Ryan Shane Miessner in 2002.

Howard spent his childhood in the tiny Village of Reno, PA with many friends, his maternal grandparents, several aunts, uncles and cousins. Howard was an original latchkey kid as both parents worked full time. His parents did not want him to be a spoiled child, so at an early age, they secured jobs for him doing landscaping and grass mowing for seniors in Reno and mowing the Reno Cemetery lots. Eventually he became a greenskeeper at Wanango Country Club in Reno. “I hate grass!” was a common expression of Howard’s. In his spare time, Howard loved hunting, fishing, and spending time with both grandfathers on their farms, planting and tending gardens and selling goods at the local farmers’ markets on Saturdays. One of Howard’s favorite pastimes was floating for hours down the Allegheny River in Reno in a homemade boat (two car hoods welded together).

Howard loved playing baseball, beginning with Little League. He was a proud member of the 1960 Pony League Champions. He played on city teams throughout his high school years and on college intramural teams. He participated in IBM and church teams and coached his children who played in their youth. Besides baseball, Howard played tennis, racquetball, golf, and Frisbee golf. He was a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers but also cheered for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and the Atlanta Braves and Falcons when he lived in Ohio and Georgia.

Howard attended the four-room Reno Elementary for six years before completing his Junior and Senior High School years at Rocky Grove High School in Rocky Grove, PA. Howard graduated in 1964 with plans of pursuing a teaching degree. He graduated from Grove City College in Grove City, PA in 1968 with a double major in Math and Physics, making the Dean’s list every semester of his Junior and Senior years.

Howard spent four years of his twenty-six-year IBM career as an engineer beginning in 1968 in Endicott, NY. He joined IBM’s salesforce in 1972, earning 100% Club awards every year. He was also a sales manager and regional manager until he retired in 1994. Howard fulfilled his dream of a teaching career after he earned a teaching degree from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. He taught high school math for a time but preferred his positions as adjunct professor of computer sciences at Western Kentucky University and North Georgia Tech. Howard also formed his own business, Little Bytes, and taught computer skills to employees at Weyerhaeuser Corporation and Fruit of the Loom. In his spare time, Howard tutored high school students and received recognition from Junior Achievement for his work. Howard finally officially retired in 2014.

Howard loved motor homing! His joy was spending time taking his kids and grandchildren hiking, fishing and on camping trips. He and Sue were able to travel through all the lower 48 States and Alaska and through much of Canada by themselves or in caravan groups. They also made two trips to Hawaii. Two weeks every summer for six years, they were volunteer lighthouse keepers at Forty Mile Point Lighthouse in Rogers City, MI.

Howard’s hobbies included hiking and fishing in the North Georgia mountains with his beloved dachshund Deutsch. Although he was only able to partially fulfill his dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail, he and Deutsch proudly hiked to the top of Mt. Yonah in Cleveland, GA many times. During six years residency in Cleveland, Howard and Sue were members of the White County Chamber of Commerce and delivered Meals on Wheels to rural seniors. Howard organized and presided over their Tesnatee Landing subdivision HOA until relocating to Winder, GA.

Howard was also an avid gardener and earned awards for his square foot gardens. Howard loved singing. At the mention of any word, he would break into song. His favorite singers were Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. He also had a “talent” for talking backwards (balking tackwards).

Howard was an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a member for 54 years, he held many positions, including Primary children’s teacher, youth and adult Sunday School teacher, Stake and Ward Young Men’s President, Seminary and Institute teacher, Bishop, Stake High Counselor, Stake Executive Secretary, Stake Auditor, and Ward Financial Clerk. For six years, Howard and Sue served as ordinance workers in the Atlanta GA Temple and fulfilled a service mission for the BYU Pathways program from 2019 to 2022.

As a Veteran, Howard was honorably discharged as a Specialist 4 of the New York Army National Guard on May 17th, 1972. He received his honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant from the United States Air Force in Ohio on May 17th, 1975.

Howard will be missed by his many friends and acquaintances and his loving family including his second dachshund, Seiger, who he rescued in 2013 two days after Deutsch’s passing because he was so heartbroken at the loss of his first faithful friend.

Howard leaves a legacy of devotion to family, faith, honesty, hard work, kindness, service, sense of humor and love of life and adventure.

Sue and family wish to express their sincere gratitude to all at Oak Pointe Memory Care, The Landing of Winder, the nurses and associates of Gentiva Hospice and Smith Funeral Home for the loving and tender care extended to our family and Howard during his time with them. A private family memorial service will be held. Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park, Athens, GA. If anyone wishes, donations may be made to an Alzheimer’s Foundation or Hospice Association.

Smith Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.