Charles Ray Howard Sr.

Charles Ray Howard Sr. was born on August 28, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas. He grew up in Austin, Texas, with his parents, Harvey Wayne Howard Jr. and Eva Lucille Howard. The family moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where Charles received his formal education and graduated from Holy Rosary Catholic High School.

He was baptized at an early age and attended church regularly. He and his family joined Zion Rest Baptist Church in 1975.

He met and married the love of his life, Barbara, in 1972 and they moved to the Austin area where he worked in various offices. Charles always had more than one job at a time and prided himself on providing the very best for Barbara and their two children, Charldrae Howard-Hall and Charles Ray Howard Jr. He also worked for Texas Leigh Cement Company for many years. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and owned his own businesses, Poppa’s Ocean Blue Wash and Wax Mobile Detail and Tiny Feet Childcare Centers. In his later years, he worked for Austin ISD where he retired in 2022.

He loved spending time with his family. He and Barbara were happily married over fifty years and he loved telling stories about their life together with their children. He shared a special relationship with his daughter who he nicknamed “Baby Tiger.” In his younger days, he loved playing basketball with his son and brother and brothers-in-law and had a great hook shot. His bedside table held the pictures of each of his three grandchildren who he loved dearly. He also cared for his brother, Ronnie Davis, for the last 15 years, ensuring that he had a loving home to reside in. He loved attending car shows with his father and special hugs from his mother who often called him her buddy. Denmark, Tennessee, and Saginaw, Michigan were his favorite vacation spots so he could spend time with his in-laws whom he cherished. He was an avid sports fan and loved to discuss his favorite players and teams with his friends and grandsons.

He served as a Deacon at Zion Rest under the leadership of Pastor R. E. Foster for 16 years. He loved Zion Rest and was instrumental in its growth. He served as the chairman of the finance committee, served as the Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday school classes, sang in the church choir, participated in the men’s ministry, helped organize the church childcare and many other church auxiliaries, and served on the Hope Ministry Team until his death.

Charles transitioned to his heavenly home to be with the Lord on January 4, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey Howard Jr. and Eva Lucille Howard, his brothers Robert Masters, James Davis, Kenneth Davis, and Carl and Claude Turner Jr.

Those left to cherish his memory: his wife, Barbara Howard, his daughter Charldrae Howard-Hall (Joseph), his son Charles Ray Howard Jr. (Sally), his three grandchildren, Devin, Deacon, and Bayley, sisters Wanda Atwood and Loretta Guilford, and brothers Michael Davis (Irene), Ronnie Davis, and Leonard Hardin, brother and sister-in-law, Rondy E. and Shirley Foster, as well as aunts and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and very special friend Donald J. Alexander.

A visitation for Charles will be held on Thursday, January 19 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78749. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, January 20 at 11:00 AM at Zion Rest Baptist Church, 3326 Paisano Trail, Austin, Texas 78745.