Robert H. Howard

Robert H. “Bob” Howard, 90, of New Castle, went home to be with the Lord on the evening of Thursday, June 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family in his home. He had courageously fought cancer for 20 years. He was born on July 10, 1934, in New Castle, Indiana, a son of the late Alva O. and Letha M. (Bennett) Howard. Bob grew up in New Lisbon, where he graduated from high school. Throughout his life, Bob had a great love of the community of New Lisbon and his friends there. For 33 years, he worked for the Chrysler Corporation, where he served as a journeyman in machine repair. He retired in 1993. Bob was a 40-year active member of Grace Baptist Church. He felt that his greatest success was dedicating his life to the Lord in 1987, and the tremendous change that followed in his life. Bob loved serving quietly and unselfishly. He loved Allis-Chalmers tractors, farming, attending tractor shows, gardening, and windmills. He was a sports fan and enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Patrick Mahomes. He also enjoyed watching Russ McQuaid on Fox 59. A hard worker all of his life, Bob was a fix-it man with hardly anything he couldn’t learn how to fix. He loved his home and garage and was the self-proclaimed “Mayor of 21st Street.” Those left to cherish Bob’s memory include his children, Cathy (Rex) Crabtree, Randy (Jane) Howard, DeeAnn Smith, and Marty (Aimee) Howard; his step-children, David (Leesa) Olsen, Tara (Ron) Hardwick, and Nancy Olsen; a daughter-in-law, Tina Olsen; grandchildren, Amber (Zack) Stork, Ashleigh (Derek) Frank, Brett (Carrie) Crabtree, Autumn (Luis) Hernández, Jodi (Tyler) Manning, Jonathan Howard, Kylie Smith, Jessica (Marco) Vasquez, Dustin Slover, Justin Slover, Tia (James) McDonald, Fayth Howard, and Hunter Howard; step-grandchildren, Josh Hardwick, Heather Baber, Kyle Olsen, Lindsey Olsen (Chris) Wilkey, Cassandra Elvenia; great-grandchildren, Colin Frank, Cooper Crabtree, Theodore “Theo” Howard, Lacie and Nick Godby, and Keilani McDonald, Michael Slover, Henry Vasquez, and Esray Vasquez; and step-great-grandchildren, Danny Wilkey, Alexis Hardwick, and Mason Hardwick. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his wife, MaryAnn Howard, in 2018; a daughter, Tamara Slover, in 2005; a step-son, Chris Olsen, and a sister, Mary Louise Huse. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Sproles Family Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Neal officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery West Lawn Addition. Friends may call from 11:00 am until the time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be offered to Henry Community Hospice or Grace Baptist Church, with envelopes available at the funeral home. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. The Sproles family and staff are honored to serve the family of Robert H. Howard.

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Robert H. Howard

July 10, 1934 - June 26, 2025