Keith Burnell Howard
November 2, 1944 - January 24, 1998
(Photo below taken 1992)
| Joseph Lynn |
Kenneth Ray |
James Lawrence |
| Carolyn (mom) |
Irena Mae |
| Keith (dad) |
Lynn's words at the funeral.
Dad being someone of whom I have so many memories, I wouldn't know where to even begin.
So I'm not going to tell a story. I'm just going to say that along with him, part of me is
lying there too. But more importantly, part of him still lives on in me. As badly as I do
(and will) miss him, I know he's safe in God's arms; the very same arms that are carrying
many of us right now. As in the poem "Footprints", I know many of us will look
back at this time and see only one set of footprints in the sand. I love you dad.
James' words at the funeral.
The first time I remember really learning about all the love and pride that my dad had
for all of us was in Junior High. I had known all along, but this is when it really seemed
to hit home. It was during a basketball game at Paoli. I managed to get a steal at
half-court and then tried to go down and score. I ended up getting fouled and missed the
shot. Before I turned around to walk back I was upset that I had not scored on the play.
To me I had failed. But when I turned around, Mom and Dad were standing up cheering with
grins that reached both ears. I knew then that their love and pride was unconditional. To
them, I could not fail. I could only have temporary set-backs and that they would love me
through anything. I don't know why it stands out so well, but it does.
The last sermon that I heard in Lexington really touched me. I didn't realize at the
time why it meant so much to me. Saturday morning it became painfully clear. In the sermon
Paster Abney told of a picture of a small boy wearing his daddy's shoes. We have all seen
a child try to do this. They are trying to fill their daddy's shoes. Paster Abney wanted
us to ask ourselves about the shoes that we are leaving behind. Are they worthy of being
filled? This stuck in the back of my head and I really didn't know why. Then I started
looking at the shoes my father left behind. I looked at the way that he touched all the
people he met. How he tried to instill the love of Christ and family into all of us. I
realized that he had left some big shoes that are definitely worthy of us working to fill.
The turnout and the outpour of love last night and this morning help to assure me that I
am right about his shoes.
Talking with some people the other day I realized how dependent we all were on Dad for
extra strength to get through times like this. He always seemed to have a little extra for
each of us that would pull us through. I have come to learn where he got that strength. It
was through his relationship with Christ that he found it. He worked to show us the way to
find it and now we must find it for ourselves. All we have to do is look to the Lord and
accept it when he gives it to us as well. And in that strength we will find the ability to
cope with our loss one day, one tear, and one prayer at a time.
Thought for the day
Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come; you'll descend the ramp and
enter the city. You'll see faces that are waiting for you. You'll hear your name spoken by
those who love you. And maybe, just maybe--in the back, behind the crowds--the One who
would rather die than live without you will remove His pierced hands from his heavenly
robe...and applaud.
Thanks Mike
NOTE FROM LYNN
Thanks dad, for finding hope in hopeless, seeing the good where there didn't seem to be
any, making crazy sane, and just being you. I know God has his reasons for taking you away, but it's hard to see them. I guess if
Jesus could ask why on the cross, maybe I can ask why now. The bible doesn't mention whether he got an
answer or not, but He did ask. Wishing dad back would be taking him away from heaven, so I won't do that.
Although I wish I could somehow go back in time and see him again. One more conversation, one more hug.
LETTER WRITTEN TO DAD'S SISTER FROM SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH DAD.
Date: 1/29/98 5:31pm
Subject: Keith--Reply
Mrs. Foxx:
Thank you for the note. I did not know that you and Keith were brother and sister. Words
cannot express how I feel now that Keith is not physically with us. I would like you to know that my deepest
sympathy and condolences are extended to you and your family. Keith was truly one of a few GOOD MEN! When the 25mm program first began, we were all
under the gun to produce results for Captain Beggs, NAVSEA Program Manger. Tempers would predictably flare
when the electronics/mechanics portions of the range tests would fail. Keith would step in and calm
everybody down and get us talking to one another and working together again. You can't imagine how cold
it was that winter during OPEVAL. Everyone got wet, tired, cold and hungry almost daily. And when we thought
that just about everything had gone wrong or just when we had everything fixed something else adverse
would happen. Keith never wavered! Sometimes we all got mad at him because he seldom showed any aggravation.
He was our steady calming influence. Some of us wondered what made him tick. It was some 4-5 years
later that I found out what his secret was. He had Jesus Christ in his life! Most of us speak loudly that we
are Christians. And, continue to remind others around us of our belief. However, we don't live or act like
Christ! Keith lived and walked his belief. He never forced his views on anyone. His actions spoke volumes.
Look around you! See any people (in general), men (in particular) that are trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, brave, clean, spiritual, and/or reverent? You and your family have truly been
blessed to have had such an exemplary and extraordinary man as a brother, father, son, and uncle. Hopefully, both you
and I will learn from Keith and live the rest of our days as Christ would want. If we do so, we shall receive
the ultimate reward that Keith has received (eternal life). May the grace of God continue to go with you all the
days of your life.
We possess Keith's wry smile, quiet presence; God possesses his soul! Hallelujah!
Sincerely/Dick Swarn
Note: My father worked on the 25mm project Mr. Swarn was referring to (shown below). This
25mm
Mark38 machine gun is notible for being the only system that never failed once when called
upon in
the Persian Gulf War.
LETTER WRITTEN BY HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW
From the desk of Henry K. Beatty:
Greetings in the sweet name of Jesus. It is with a sad heart I take this opportunity to
pay tribute to a fellow Minister & friend. Bro. Keith Howard passed from this life Saturday Jan. 24th 1998. I
have known Bro. Keith since our school days at Springs Valley. I didn't really get to know him until we started
working together in the ministry. He was one of the best when it came to working for the Lord. He was always
looking for a way to get this great message out to a lost & dying world. I count it a privilege to have worked
with Bro. Keith & his sweet wife. They were a great team, she was a prayer warrior that added so much to his ministry.
Bro. Keith was a minister that took time to care about others. He pressed on in this life
to make sure the word got out. If he wasn't getting tapes ready for his broadcast, he was preaching at his home
church. He was a member of the Ministerial Association of Springs Valley, another way he had found to help
people. He didn't care what church you went to, he loved you as a brother or sister in the Lord. He lived
what he preached; the focus of most of his messages was the same as Jesus' was & that was LOVE. We must love
one another.
I must confess I feel I failed to be as close to Bro. Keith as I should have
been as a fellow minister & a brother-in-law. I'm like others; I got so involved in living my own life that I passed
up a lot of good opportunities to visit him and to tell him I loved and appreciated him. We take people for
granted sometimes.
In closing, I want to say GOODBYE to my dear friend and fellow minister and I know Bro.
Keith could say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give
me at that day. And not to me only, but unto all them also, that love his appearing." Goodbye, friend
until we meet in Glory. I love you.
Christian love,
Henry K. Beatty
OBITUARY
Keith Burnell Howard, 53, of French Lick, died Saturday, January 24, 1998 at 1:19 a.m.
at Orange County Hospital.
He was born Nov. 2, 1944 at Paoli to Kenneth and Irene Simmons Howard and married
Carolyn Sue Cooper in 1965.
Mr. Howard was an electronics engineer at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center for more
than 33 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in West Baden Springs; a member
of the Springs Valley Ministerial Association and an ordained Baptist minister.
Surviving with his wife, Carolyn are four children: Kenneth Ray Howard, Irena Mae
Howard and James Lawrence Howard, all of French Lick, and Joseph Lynn Howard of Fort
Wayne; his mother, Irene Simmons Stackhouse; a brother, Joe Stackhouse of French Lick; a
sister, Janna Lou Foxx of French Lick; and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Marie Howard also of
French Lick.
He was preceded in death by his father and step-father, Paul Stackhouse.
Rev. Glenn Hamer and Rev. Bud Keilhom officiated at the funeral held Tuesday, January
27, 1998 at the Brosmer-Drabing Funeral Home in French Lick, Indiana. Burial was in the
Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
Elizabeth Marie Howard
(a.k.a. the granddaughter)
her dad is Kenneth Ray