Daniel Wesley Howard, Jr.

Daniel Wesley Howard, also affectionately known as "Pappy", died peacefully at his home on Saturday, January 29, 2011 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease and cancer. He was born November 2, 1927 to Dan Wesley and Beatrice Walker Howard in Greensboro, NC. He was raised in Greensboro and attended Greensboro High School. Before graduating, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served on the U.S.S. Collette as a gunnery mate during WWII. Following his service in the Navy, Dan married Betty Jo Williams of Houston, TX. They lived throughout the U.S. including Portland, OR, San Francisco, CA, Houston, TX, and Essex Junction, VT before settling in Asheboro in 1972. Dan's business career was spent with General Electric in Houston, TX during the Apollo 11 program and in Burlington, VT. In Asheboro, he worked as a salesman for Hancock Country Hams and retired as a merchandiser for General Mills in 1991. Dan's greatest joy was his 40 years spent in the Boy Scout organization. His leadership began in 1962 when he served as a leader for his elder son's Troops # 801 and # 510 in Houston. In Vermont he led both sons' Troop # 25. Finally in Asheboro, Dan served as leader of the Webelos Pack # 570 and also served for three years on the Committee for Troop # 570 at which time he became Scoutmaster of Troop # 524 at First Baptist Church. Even after his younger son went to college, Dan continued as Scoutmaster and was also an advisor to Explorer Post # 524. Later he served as Scoutmaster and Institutional Representative of Troop # 539 sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. He retired from scouting in 2002 after ten years serving with his wife Betty as Scoutmaster of Troop # 571, made up of mentally handicapped men. Through these many leadership roles, Dan guided numerous young men, including both his sons, through the Scout program to the rank of Eagle Scout, a rank he always regretted never achieving himself. In addition to serving scouting for nearly 30 years locally in Randolph County, Dan was active in the council where he served on the Executive Board of the General Greene Council. Dan achieved various ranks including Order of the Arrow Ordeal in 1965, Order of the Arrow Brotherhood in 1966, Order of the Arrow Vigil in 1979 and he received the Distinguished Scoutmaster Award in 1994. For his many years of service and dedication to scouting, Dan was recognized with numerous awards. In 1977, he received the Randolph District Thayer Award for outstanding scout leader in Randolph County. In 1979, he was awarded the District Award of Merit for the Randolph District of the General Greene Council. In 1981, Dan was recognized by the General Greene Council as one of the top adult scouter in the council with the Silver Beaver Award and in 1994 was awarded the James E. West Award for his devotion to scouting. Finally, in 2000, Dan received the St. George Award at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in recognition of his contribution to the spiritual growth of the boys in the Boy Scouts of America program. He was also recognized in 1991 by the Asheboro Jaycees as the Distinguished Senior Citizen for his service to the Asheboro community. His involvement with the youth did not stop with scouting. After retiring, Dan volunteered at the Wesleyan Youth Camp in Asheboro and was a docent at the North Carolina Zoological Park in the Sonora Desert. Throughout his adult life, Dan spent thousands of hours with the youth in the communities in which he lived. He always felt the time spent with the youth was more beneficial to his life than it was to theirs and he always believed "life is a continual learning experience, no matter what your age, and we can all learn from each other". Dan was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22 in Asheboro and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In addition to his parents, Dan was preceded in death by his son Zachary Garland Howard and his sister Irene Howard Gravely. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty; daughter, Kathleen Howard Fairall of Advance; son, Andrew Scott Howard and wife Joanie of Asheboro; and three grandchildren, Allison Marie Fairall of Winston-Salem, Andrew Scott Howard, Jr. and Michael Wesley Howard of Asheboro. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday, February 1, at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, and other times at the home, 159 South Park Street. A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, February 2, at 2 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 505 Mountain Road. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Old North State Council of the Boy Scout of America, 1405 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408 or The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Dan's family wishes to thank Dan's caregivers for their loving care and support over the past few months - Sandi, Vickie, Amber, Courtney, Cindy, Donna, and Carrie, Dr. Robert Dough for his thoughtful care throughout Dan's illness and Hospice of Randolph County for their love and kindness.