John Fredrick Howard

COLUMBIA A funeral service for John Fredrick Howard, 79, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Salem United Methodist Church, with burial at noon Monday, July 12, 2021, in the Columbarium in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel is assisting the family.

Mr. Howard died Friday, July 2, 2021. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, he was a son of the late Harold Francis and Doris Audrey Runyon Howard. He was the husband of Mildred “Millie” Louise Kelley Howard.

As a Marine, Mr. Howard served three tours in Vietnam and received several military decorations. He was a drill instructor, then a gunnery sergeant at the time of his discharge.

He coached football and baseball, and was a sports fanatic who played golf, tennis and basketball, liked to cycle and was an avid believer in fitness. He had attended the University of South Carolina, then went to work for Metropolitan Life and later, Gibson and Associates Insurance. He often donated to multiple charities and served on several committees at Salem United Methodist Church.

Mr. Howard was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and is survived by his wife, Mildred “Millie” Howard of Columbia; sons, Shannon F. Howard of Sonoma, CA, and M. Martin Baker of Lexington; daughter, Kelley Royster (Derek Scott) of Columbia; grandchildren, Chloe and Faline Howard, Austin Wurtz, and Carson and C.J. Royster; sister, Carol Grosenbacker of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; one niece and six nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, Gary and David Howard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to 1321 Salem United Methodist Church, Salem Church Road, Irmo, SC 29063 or salemumcsc.com.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.