Richard "Dick" A. Howard

Richard A. Howard, of Montgomery, NY, died on Friday, June 30th after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.  He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loving members of his family.  Dick, as he was known to friends and family, was 76 years old. 

He was born in Little Falls, NY, to the late Robert and Ruth (Palmer) Howard of Dolgeville, NY.  Dick graduated from Dolgeville Central Schools in 1964.  He voluntarily enlisted in the United States Navy in 1965 at the onset of the war in Vietnam and earned the rank of Petty Officer, 2nd Class (E-4).  Dick was a signalman (SM3) in the Navy and spent most of his active duty aboard the helicopter assault ship USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7).  He was honorably discharged in 1971. 

On June 1, 1968, Dick was united in marriage to Delia Christine Youker in Dolgeville, NY. The couple shared a devoted union of 55 years.

Dick was employed at State Farm Insurance for 30 years and retired as a Team Manager in the special investigative unit in 2009.  Dick embraced retirement and remained active in his community, serving as president of the Sheldon Hills H.O.A Board for 10 years with the same sense of duty and care he exhibited throughout his extraordinary life. 

He and his wife Delia loved animals and were devoted to their Shelties, Palmer and Bella.  He enjoyed RV camping, hunting, fishing, boating, antique cars, vacationing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and cookouts with family and friends.  Dick was a loving, devoted, and caring son, husband, father and friend. 

He is survived by his wife and companion of 55 years, Delia Howard, of Montgomery, NY; son Christopher Howard and his wife Denise of Pine Bush, NY; daughter Jennifer Reidy and her husband Bill of Montgomery, NY; a sister, Barbara Schuyler and her husband Bill of Fort Plain, NY; and brothers/sisters-in-law Sherry and Mark Buck of Dunnellon, FL, Marty and Lamoine Youker of Hopewell, VA and Harold and Cindy Youker of Stuart’s Landing, NY.   

Dick was predeceased by his in-laws, Zane and Deborah Youker of Salisbury, NY. 

A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Salisbury Rural Cemetery, State Route 29, Salisbury Center, NY. Arrangements are with Roberts Funeral Home, 3 E. Faville Ave., Dolgeville, NY 13329.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

To leave a message of sympathy for the Howard Family, please visit www.robertsfuneralcare.com or www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the tribute all or leave a memory or photo for his memory book.

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