Ronald "Opie" Howard
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Ronald "Opie" Howard passed away in New Castle, Indiana, on March 22, 2022, at age 74. Ron was a member of Mays High School's last graduating class in 1966. He went on to attend Lincoln Technical Institute before joining the Armed Forces in September of '67. Ron served nine years in the United States Army Signal Corps as a crypto technician with tours of duty during the Vietnam War (1969) and in the Panama Canal Zone (1973-76). He worked as an HVAC technician with Arrow Gas Company for 25 years and a maintenance technician with the United States Postal Service for 20 years before happily retiring in 2013.
Ron is survived by his wife of 48 years Christine, and children Ronda Lassiter, Krista Abel, Lauren Howard, and Ty Howard. He also is survived by his oldest and youngest sisters Joan Hale and Kathi Tompkins-Glover. He was a proud grandfather to four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and two granddogs. Ron is preceded in death by his parents Walter "Skeet" Howard and Opal (Campbell) Tompkins, as well as siblings Dixie Jones-Murray, Thomas Jackson, Darwin "Buddy" Howard, and Harrison Howard.
Visit with the family from 10 a.m. - noon on Friday, April 1 and share stories of remembrance at the celebration of life following from noon - 1 p.m. at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service - Knightstown Chapel. The family requests in-person guests wear masks. As a proud Army veteran and beekeeper, family and friends can make donations in Ron's honor to The Gary Sinise Foundation or Hives for Heroes.