Marion Louise Howard

Marion is survived by her daughters, Barbara Dwyer (Thomas) of Lake Worth, Florida and Donna Arnold (Steven) of Bowling Green, Ohio; six grandchildren, Michael Dwyer (Annette), Michelle Riddle (Jessie), Jennifer D’Agostino, Travis Arnold (Jamie), Megan Arnold, and Paul Harris (Pam Krotzer); and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, and her siblings Richard Taylor and Carol Malz.

Marion was born on November 5, 1924 in Bainbridge, Ohio to Virgil and Caroline Taylor. She graduated from Bainbridge High School and Dyke Business School. She married Vernon Howard in 1943, and the couple built their life and family on the Howard family farm. Together, they developed a registered Holstein dairy, operated the fruit orchards started by Vernon’s father, and produced maple syrup from the farm’s maple trees. Starting in 1978 Marion and Vernon spent winters in Florida, where they became involved in the citrus industry. Marion served as president of Knollwood Groves, Inc., a gift shipping business she and Vernon established with family in Boynton Beach, Florida from 1992 until 2005.

Marion was at home in the kitchen, whether it was the kitchen in the family farmhouse, or the house she and Vernon built together from the ground up in the early 80’s. She could often be found freezing or canning fresh vegetables from their gardens or creating maple displays for the Great Geauga County Fair and Geauga County Maple Festival. Marion’s most well-known skill was her pie-baking, whether it be apples, peaches, or elderberries. She found great joy in spending time with her family, passing along her kitchen wisdom to each generation of children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. She and Vernon also loved to travel and play Pinochle with their card club friends.

In addition to her devotion to her family, Marion’s legacy is her dedication to living a life of service to others and her community. She was a member of the Geauga County Fair Band, playing her saxophone with them for over 60 years, and serving as the uniform chairperson for many of those years. She played an integral role in the Geauga County Fair auxiliary from 1969-2009, holding several offices, spearheading the creation of the famous apple pie baking contest, and directing the transformation of the Domestic Arts Building into a source of pride for the county fair. She was also a member of the Bainbridge Historical Society and was actively involved in the Auburn Community Church. Vernon and Marion’s servant leadership was recognized by many organizations. They were inducted into the Geauga County Maple Syrup Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Ohio Fair Managers Hall of Fame in 2011.

There will be a private burial, with a celebration of life planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Great Geauga County Fair Foundation, PO Box 402, Burton OH 44021 or the Wood County Clover Legacy Foundation, PO Box 271 Bowling Green, OH 43402.