Obituaries

Garnett Howard, Jr.

March 16, 1948 - October 17, 2016

Burial Date October 21, 2016

Garnett E. Howard Jr. (68) passed into eternity on October 17, 2016. Garnett was born 3/16/1948 into a Navy family that travelled extensively. He met his wife Helen in 1963 and they married at the age of 18. Their beloved daughter died at birth. Over the years, Garn worked at Brown & Sharpe, Harvard Technologies and Electric Boat. He owned a successful business until ill health forced him to retire in 2010. Garn and Helen lived in South County, RI and were faithful members of Quidnessett Baptist Church for 2 decades. They moved to 27 Dart ST, New London, CT until Helen’s death in 2002, at which point that had been married for 37 years. While in New London, Garn finished college, completed his Master’s degree a year later, and had started work on his Doctoral degree until his health declined. Garn is now no longer separated from Helen, the great love of his life, and their daughter Dawn, whom he has waited desperately to see. On earth, Garn leaves his siblings Leslie, Ashley, and Andrew Howard along with 5 nieces and nephews and their children, whom he loved. Garnett was a successful husband, system architect, church leader and an honorable man. He loved Jesus and he knew that Jesus loved him. Garn had an amazing ability to make everyone feel like who they are is enough, and he spent his life following Jesus’ commands to love people. When he failed, he confessed his sin, accepted forgiveness, and kept walking. Garnett lived from 1984 until October 17, 2016 with constant, unrelenting physical pain. He did not allow that to define his life, nor did he define himself by what he did for work. Rather, he defined himself by who he was as a child of God, as found in scripture. He particularly loved the Psalms and Proverbs, and the promises of Christ in the New Testament. He knew that his life was a living testimony to grace, and was often heard saying that “We have a good God”. Garn loved history, especially the civil war and enjoyed visiting historical sites. He loved chess, football and music, including singing and leading worship in his church. Towards the end of his life, Garn had a profound interest in David’s mighty men. In the midst of all of the feats of these mighty warriors, 1 Samuel 2:12 reminds us that “the Lord brought about a great victory.” Garn knew that in every battle he fought and every struggle he faced, the Lord was with him and had already provided the ultimate victory; triumph over death and the promise of eternal life. There will be a public graveside service on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Avery-Stoddard Cemetery, 202 Stoddards Wharf Rd., Gales Ferry, CT 06335. There will be a Memorial Service on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 3:00 PM at Quaboag Valley Baptist Church, 175 Fiskdale Rd., Brookfield, MA. 01506.