Fred Ervin Howard, Jr.

Fred E. Howard, Jr., born 13 December 1914, in Abbottsburg, North Carolina, died 15 March 2019 in Fort Walton Beach Florida. Fred was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Rietta Winn Bailey Howard. He was the eldest child of school principal Fred E. Howard, Sr. and Annie Leon Whitaker. He was raised in North Carolina, graduated from UNC and joined the Navy during WWII where he taught electronics. A true renaissance man, he was a dancer, singer, playwright, poet, teacher, chemist, physicist and a philosopher to the end. 

He worked for 33 years at the Eglin Air Force Research Laboratory as an engineer developing leading edge technology across the full spectrum of tactical weapons. He had a lifelong love of the sea and taught sailing for years at the Ft Walton Beach Yacht Club.  In his spare time he built several boats, including designing and constructing a trimaran, the Riettarie. Author of several books, he formed the Howard Particle Physics Group and published A Hidden Simplicity of Nuclear Particles providing a coherency of concept for fundamental particles.

He is survived by his children, Rietta Abigail Dillard (Larry) of Cusseta, Georgia.; Katherine Marie Douglas (Robert deceased) of Shalimar, Florida; Fred E. Howard III Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Rev. Emilie Chaudron Bush (Col. John, USAF, Retired) of Crawford, Colorado; and Henry Blevins Bailey Howard (Jennifer) of Destin, Florida.  His grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Dr. Katherine Chaudron Gille and children Emilie Elizabeth Gille, Louisa Abigail Gille and William David Gille of Gainesville, Georgia; Dr. Elizabeth Abigail Kuipers (David) and children Andrew Dillard Kuipers, Matthew Howard Kuipers and PFC US Army Benjamin David Kuipers of Americus, Georgia; Col. US Army Larry Frank Dillard (Heidi) and children Kathryn Ann Dillard and Thomas Starling Dillard Arlington Virginia; Anne Marie Douglas Hennessey (Michael) and their children, Harrison Graham Hennessey and Connor Douglas Hennessey Orlando Florida; Robert Lee Douglas III (Dr. Rachel) and their son, Lucian; Bruce Douglas of Ithaca New York; John Blaine Bush (Dimity) and their children,  William Rowan Bush and Owen John Bush Wollongong of Australia; Rietta Katherine Bush McCain (Brian) and their children, Rietta Cordelia McCain and Dorothy Lilianne McCain of Boise Idaho;  Dylan Bailey Howard Tallahassee Florida; Marleigh Elizabeth Howard Feigenbaum (1Lt. US Army Chris) of Destin, Florida.  He is also survived by his sisters,  Margret Nicholson of Winston Salem, North Carolina and Francis Norton of Moscow, Idaho and brother, David Howard of Jacksonville, Florida.

The family of Mr. Howard is very appreciative of the loving care provided him by Dr. Virgil Brown, Philip Jessen, APRN, Dr. Hilton Weiner and the nurses and staff of White Wilson Medical Center; Ronda, Alex, Patricia, Robin, Tamika and the staff of Home Instead; Tracey, Cradlyn and the staff of Emerald Coast Hospice; The Meridian At Westwood. 

Services celebrating Fred’s life will be directed by Father Forbes Sirmon at 11:00 AM Friday, March 22, 2019 at St. Simon’s on the Sound Episcopal Church.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Fred's memory to: The Lost Colony, 1409 National Park Dr., Manteo, North Carolina 27954 -or- University of North Carolina, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Post Office Box 309, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-0309. 

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