Howard Edward O'Neal

BEDFORD -- Our Lord called Howard E. O'Neal home suddenly on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. He was 82. Funeral: 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Chapel. Interment: U.S. Army military honors will follow in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 11:30 a.m. to service time Saturday at the funeral home. He was born in rural Cleveland County, Okla., on Nov. 3, 1932, to the late Lorene and Homer O'Neal. He was raised on a farm and always embodied the hard work ethic he learned as a boy. Howard graduated from high school in 1951, and received a bachelor's degree in business from Oklahoma University in 1955. Howard married the light of his life, Mary Ruth Huffman, in 1956. At the time of his passing, Howard and Mary had been married for 59 years. Howard and Mary had two children. Howard joined the United States Army in 1955 as a second lieutenant. Howard was a patriotic man and spent the next 30 years of his life in service to the U.S. military in a variety of roles. He retired as a contracting officer for the Air Force in 1987. During his retirement, Howard enjoyed traveling with his wife and had the opportunity to see many wonderful places. He was proud of his home in Bedford, and could always be found outside caring for his property. Howard was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and loved God, his church, his family and his country. Survivors: His wife, Mary; two children; and a grandchild. Howard was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all.