Dr. David Allyn HOWARD, 76, of Houghton, NY, died peacefully at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY, Sunday, June 9, 2019, after an unexpected illness; he was the loving husband of 50 years to Dr. Irmgard “Irma” Keeler Howard. He had taught history at Houghton College, Houghton, NY for 48 years.
David was the eldest son of Martha and William “Al” Howard
of Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from Salem High School and Gordon College,
Wenham, MA. He earned his master’s degree and doctorate from Duke University.
He met his wife, Irma, through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship while they
were both graduate students at Duke; she played the organ at Blacknall Memorial
Presbyterian Church and he sang in the choir.
As professor at Houghton College, Dr. Howard taught classes
in Latin American History, African History, British History, The Reformation,
and History for Science Honors, among others. He advised hundreds of students
pursuing careers in the humanities, law, and sciences and was known, according
to Dr. Paul Young, for his “perspicacious” insights and a deep, but subtle,
sense of humor. He is the author of two
books: The Royal Indian Hospital of Mexico City andConquistador in Chains:
Cabeza de Vaca and the Indians of the Americas. For more than 30 years he sang
in the choir at Grace United Church (formerly First Congregational),
Wellsville, NY, where Irma played the organ.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, Philip
(Shirley); four children: Deborah (Sergei), Bill (Deniz), Eleanor (Patrick)
Henebury, and Stephen (April); eight grandchildren: Ekaterina, Alex, Andrew,
Allison, Davyd, Clyde, Samuel, and Daniel; and a nephew, Robert. He was
predeceased by his parents and a nephew, Philip W. Howard.
Friends may call at Grace United Church, Wellsville on
Saturday, June 15, 2019, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, with a Memorial Service
following at 11:00 AM. Rev. Dr. Sergei
Nikolaev will officiate. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody,
MA.
Memorials may be made to the Liberal Arts Scholarship at
Houghton College, Houghton, NY or Grace United Church, Wellsville, NY.
Arrangements are entrusted to Mulholland-Crowell Funeral
Home, Wellsville. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.
