Obituary of Robert C. Howe

GOUVERNEUR – Robert C. Howe, age 88, of 15 Barnes St., Gouverneur, formerly of Carthage died on Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Syracuse. There will be no calling hours. Private arrangements are with French Funeral Home in Gouverneur. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Born in Watertown on March 9, 1930, son of Ralph E. and Mildred Staplin Howe, he graduated from Antwerp High School in 1947 and from Cornell University in 1951 where he was a member of Acacia Fraternity. He later did graduate work at Cornell and St. Lawrence University. At Cornell he was a member of Ag-Domecon Student Council. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951. After completing basic training and Leadership school at Camp Pickett, VA he graduated from OCS at Fort Riley, Kansas and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corp. After serving at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Hood, Texas he was discharged from the Army Reserve as a 1st Lieutenant in 1961. After his active duty Army service, he was employed by E.C. Crooks Memorial Corp. of Carthage as a salesman in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. Through the years he became Sales Manager and Vice President of the corporation. Active in the monument business, he was involved with national and state Monument Builders Associations, serving as a director of the NY State Association. After retiring from E. C. Crooks, Mr. Howe became a licensed Real Estate salesman and Broker, working for Century 21, Long Falls Realty. An avid outdoorsman, Bob enjoyed hunting and golf. He was a member of the Antwerp American Legion and the Gouverneur Country Club. Bob was a former member of the Carthage Elks Club, Black River Valley Club, Carlowden Country Club, and Imperial Lakes Country Club in Lakeland, Florida. Mr. Howe was also active in his community over the years, serving as a town councilman, town justice, schoolboard member, trustee of Jefferson Community College, a director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a director of Hospice of Jefferson County and a director of the former Jefferson National Bank. He was also a former member of the Antwerp and Champion fire departments. He married Joan Hall of Castorland, NY on December 27, 1952 at St. Michaels Church in Antwerp, NY. The Howes purchased a farm on the Spragueville Road, outside of Antwerp, where they lived until purchasing the Freeman Farm near Champion and the historic stone house built in 1823. Bob and Joan moved to Gouverneur in 1988. Wishing to stay active, Mr. Howe went to work for a good friend, William Farley, on a part-time basis and continued for Joyce Farley at B-S Industrial after Mr. Farley's death. Surviving besides his wife are three sons, James, his twins, John and his wife, Kathy, and Jeffrey and his wife, Michelle, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by a granddaughter, Kristen and his sister, Marjorie Ielfield. Donations in Bob's memory may be made to the Golisano Children's Hospital, the reason Bob's great-granddaughter, Addilyn is alive and well, at 1 Children's Circle, Syracuse NY 13210.