Gillian Howard

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Park FuneGillian (Gill) Howard, 94, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2016. Gill was born on Christmas Day, 1921, in Wimbledon, England, to Ethel and Walter Miller. While serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Services during WWII, she met the love of her life, Eugene (Gene) Howard, who was serving in the United States Air Force near where she was stationed. They were married on September 7, 1944, and their first son, Steven, was born in London just before the end of the war. When Steven was nine months old, she traveled with him to America on a boat full of English war brides. Gene met them in New York and, after traveling around the country for several months, brought them to his hometown of Oklahoma City, where he eventually started his own auto glass business, Anchor glass. Their second son, Gerald (Jerry) was born in 1950. Gill was known to her sons and grandchildren as an immaculate and organized homemaker who devotedly loved and cared for them. She greatly enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s events; her last one was just three months ago. She charmed everyone she met with her British accent and engaging way. She liked to say “I don’t have an accent; you do.” She loved to travel, read, work the daily cryptoquotes and crossword puzzles, and tell stories about being in London during the war. She traveled back to England many times. She lovingly cared for her mother and then for Gene for many years. Gene and Gill were married almost 65 years before his death in 2009. Gill was also preceded in death by her son, Jerry, and her sister, Betty. Surviving her are her son Steven and his wife Melinda, grandchildren Jill Lannen and her husband Eric, Kimberly Howard, Justin Howard and his wife Karen, and Jay Howard. She is also survived by her niece in England, Angela Varley and her husband, Keith, and by great grandchildren Jake, Nate, and Cate Lannen, Max Whittaker, and Brice and Blake Howard. Gill requested donations be made to the Salvation Army or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.ral Home, Oklahoma City, OK.