James D. Howard

OBITUARY

James D. Howard, 94, a longtime resident of Scranton, died Sunday morning.

Born in Scranton, son of the late James M. and Edna Kibler Howard, he was a graduate of Scranton Central High School, Class of 1950, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 1955. Following his graduation from Penn State, he served for three years with the 12th Air Force in Germany during the Cold War. Jim was a partner in the architectural firm of Treby Howard Philips in Allentown, retiring in 1994 as the field architect following a successful career designing homes, commercial and public buildings, and houses of worship.

Jim was a member of Hickory Street United Presbyterian Church and its Adult Fellowship. Ordained as an elder, he served the church for a number of years as the Chairman of the Property Committee. Jim was also an active member of the Presbytery’s Camp Lackawanna Committee, through which he spent many days as a volunteer leader and participant in repair projects at the camp.

Jim was a member of the Schiller Lodge #345, F&AM. He joined the Lions Club in the Lehigh Valley in 1967 and was a member of the Abington Lions Club at the time of his passing. From 2000 to 2015, Jim volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels.

Throughout his life, Jim was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1949. The Lehigh Valley’s Minsi Trails Council recognized him with the District Award of Merit in 1982 and the Silver Beaver Award in 1991. In 2007, he received the Silver Cross from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council. Jim was a committee member and Unit Commissioner of Boy Scout Troop 16 in Scranton and served on the council’s district committee.

Jim is survived by his close friends, Roberta Naeher, of Clarks Summit, David Naeher and wife, Karis, of Clarks Summit, and John Naeher and wife, Kathleen, of Falls Church, Virginia. Also surviving are Roberta’s grandchildren, Emma, Sarah, Samuel, Jacob, and Rebekah Naeher, to whom he was known affectionately as “Uncle Jim.” In addition, he is survived by cousins John Morris, Cheryl Colan, and Jeremy Morris and their families.

Jim was preceded in death by aunts, uncles, and cousins, and by his good friend, Donald Naeher.

Friends may call at the August J. Haas Funeral Home, 202 Pittston Ave., Scranton, on Tuesday, September 1 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be private, with interment to follow in Abington Hills Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hickory Street United Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, 435 Hickory St., Scranton, PA 18505, or to Scouting America, Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, 72 Montage Mountain Rd., Moosic, PA 18507.

Online condolences may be left at www.augusthaasfuneralhome.com.