Lawrence Martin Howard Jr.

March 29, 1947 – June 6, 2010

After a struggle of more than 1 ½ years with pancreatic cancer, Lawrence Martin “Marty” Howard, Jr., passed away on Sunday, June 06, 2010, in his Dallas home surrounded by his loving family and friends. A veteran of the Vietnam War in 1967-68, he was a Specialist 5 in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, serving as an Avionics Communication Technician. He stayed in the Reserves until 1971. He was born March 29, 1947, in Miami, Fla., to Lawrence Martin Howard Sr. and Katherine Partenheimer Howard. He received his associate’s degree from Dade County Junior College (now Miami Dade College) and was a lifelong learner, acquiring numerous technical certifications during a 37-year career as a systems analyst for IBM. For the last two years he worked as a computer specialist for the Census Bureau. He was an avid bicyclist, Harley motorcyclist and contra dancer. He also was involved in founding and managing his son’s soccer club. He was a craftsman and outdoorsman, with other hobbies that included home gardening, woodworking and construction, sailing and fishing. He loved country music. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of five years, Brenda Nibert Howard; sister Karen Shober and brother-in-law Butch Shober; brother Keith Howard and sister-in-law Elsa Howard; daughter Jennifer Smith, son-in-law Jayson Smith and grandson Ethan Smith; two sons, Adam Louis Howard and girlfriend Ana Cummins and her son Addison Cummins, and Michael Isaac Howard and daughter-in-law Christal Howard; their mother, Nancy Howard; stepsons Joel Nibert and David Nibert, and five nephews. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas. Following the service, the burial will be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 12:45 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or charity of your choice.