Thomas J. Howard Jr.

Thomas J. Howard Jr., of Norwich, CT, loving husband and father, entered into eternal rest on February 8th at the age of 91. He was the son of Thomas Howard and Rose Burlake Howard, formerly of Montville, CT. He had one brother, George Howard, who was in the Navy and killed in action in World War II, for which George received the Purple Heart. Thomas attended local grammar school and high school. He served his country during World War II in the Navy, was stationed in the Pacific, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He and Phyllis Wieczorek were married in 1951. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity where Phyllis was honored as the “sweetheart of Sigma Chi”. He then worked for Eastern Airlines in Florida before moving on to work for General Dynamics in Groton, CT for 35 years as Deputy Program Manager where his primary duty was to go out on test runs of the submarines. He retired in 1990. He was an active member of the Elks. He was an avid baseball fan with a special devotion to the Boston Red Sox. He was also a lifelong golfer and was a member of the Norwich Golf Course for over forty years where he achieved 2 holes in one. He enthusiastically and extensively travelled the world with his son Mark and they visited every state in America and over 70 foreign countries. Above all, his family will greatly miss his bountiful love and devotion. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Phyllis Howard of Norwich, CT; his son Mark Howard of Pennsylvania; and his daughter Janice Howard Vitello and her husband John of Cheshire, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Missionary Society of St. Columban, P.O. Box 10, St. Columban NE 68056. A visitation will be held on Friday, February 16th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Church & Allen Funeral Home, 136 Sachem Street, in Norwich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM, following the visitation, at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, 213 Broadway, Norwich, CT beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will be accompanied with full military honors, in the Comstock Cemetery, Uncasville, CT. To express condolences or share a fond memory, please sign the online guest book at: www.churchandallen.com