Virgil L. Howard

Virgil L. Howard            â€œloving husband, father, grandfather, and veteran”

OLEAN, NY---Virgil L. Howard, 92, of Olean, NY, formerly of Shinglehouse, Pa, passed away with his loving family at his side on Sunday, November 16,2 014 in the Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY.
     Born on December 4, 1921 in Bell Run, Pa, he was the eldest son of Levernon and Eva Foote Howard.  On January 1, 1947 in Genesee, Pa, he married Elizabeth “Bette” Morton, who passed away on April 11, 2005.
     Mr. Howard was a graduate of Shinglehouse High School.   Virgil was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving in the South Pacific during World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant.  In 1948 he graduated from the Cleveland College of Mortuary Science in Cleveland, Ohio.  Virgil, along with his wife, owned and operated the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse.  They continued the tradition passed on to them by Mrs. Howard’s parents who had owned and operated the former Morton Funeral Home in Shinglehouse. They had also run the local ambulance service, as many funeral directors had done during that era, passing it to the Shinglehouse Volunteer Fire Department, after many years of service to the community. Virgil and Bette retired on June 1, 1984, when Kevin and Patricia Dusenbury purchased the funeral home.
     Virgil was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Shinglehouse and a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Olean.  He was a life member of the Shinglehouse American Legion Post #530 and a life member of the Shinglehouse Volunteer Fire Department.
     His greatest love was his family.  He most especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
     Surviving are four daughters, Michelle “Myke” (Bob) Karr of Shinglehouse, Mary (Dominic) Colarusso of Olean, Pattie (Greg) Carey of Olean, and Elizabeth “Liz” (Lyle) Cornelius of Shinglehouse; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-one great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ella Howard, Yvonne Milliken, and Jackie Dietze, all of Shinglehouse; and many nieces and nephews.
     In addition to his parents and wife, Virgil was predeceased by a son, William S. “Bill” Howard; three brothers, Vincent Howard, Henry Howard, and Leonard Howard; and a sister, Aola Maxson.
     Mr. Howard has generously gifted his body to the University of Buffalo Anatomical Gift Program.  
     A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.
     Memorials in Virgil’s name may be made to the Hart Comfort House, 141 East State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.