September 29, 2011

Richard C. Howard Sr. passed away Sept. 29, 2011, in Sentara Obici Hospital. Born in North Carolina, he was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Edna Howard; daughter, Sheila Howard; brothers, Woody and Elbert Howard; and sister, Linda Howard. Mr. Howard was a plant engineer with Smithfield Foods.

He is survived by his son, Richard C. Howard Jr., of Suffolk, Va.; daughter, Lisa H. Mathias and husband, David, of Sunbury, N.C.; four sisters, Gladys H. Rawls, of Ahoskie, N.C., Jane H. Lawrence and husband, Bill, of Portsmouth, Va., Susan H. Simpkins and husband, Mike, of Suffolk, Va., and Vicki H. Carr and husband, Mike, of Zuni, Va.; grandchildren, Michael, David and Michelle Snelgrove and Taylor, Dakota and Dylan Howard.

A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at 7 p.m. in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434 by the Rev. Keith Emerson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 213 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.