1906 – 2003

SOUTH PARIS – John E. Howe, 97, of South Paris and Bryant Pond, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Market Square Health Care Center.

He was born in South Woodstock on April 8, 1906, a son of John F. and Fannie E. Brooks Howe. He attended local schools and graduated from Woodstock High School in 1924. He worked as a rural mail carrier in Bryant Pond for many years. He had also served as a selectman, a school board member and was also a per diem Deputy.

Mr. Howe served at the Portland Harbor during World War II with the Coastal Patrol on Submarine watch. During that time is when he also learned to fly. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943.

He was a former member of the Bryant Pond Baptist Church, a member of the Bryant Pond Universalist Church, Jackson-Silver American Legion Post 68 and served as State Commander of the American Legion in 1970 – 1971, Jefferson Lodge 100 AF&AM, the Franklin Grange 124, and a former member of the Knights of Pythias.

He played the saxophone in several bands for over 70 years. These bands included the McDaniels Band, Merrills Melody Men, Nate Noble Band, Lon Wight and the Old Timers, Ken Goodwin, Kirby Shaw, the Parisians, Lords Orchestra and most recently, the Richard Felt Band.

He was a member of the Boy Scouts and served as Scout Master in Bryant Pond. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing and also enjoyed guiding people. He tied flies, repaired and built boats and repaired motors.

Mr. Howe restored antique cars and also had made a snowmobile out of an old truck and used it during stormy days to deliver the mail. He flew a 1929 American Eagle Bi- Plane.

He married Edna Boomer on June 4, 1965.

He is survived by his wife of Biddeford; a daughter, Olive Risko of Bryant Pond; three sons, John F. “Bill” and his wife Wynona, Edwin and his wife Elouise, and C. Stephen and his wife Joyce, all of Bryant Pond; a stepson, Jay Boomer of Wells; a stepdaughter, Jean Emerson of Saco; a sister, Margaret Schnur of Colo, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Rena Farrington whom he married in 1926, she died in 1963; two brothers, Edwin and Delphon.



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