AUBURN – John T. Howard, 78, of Maine Avenue, Rumford, died Friday, June 25, at the Clover Living Center.

Born in Mexico, May 15, 1926, son of Fred I. And Della M. (Thurston) Howard. He attended schools in Mexico and graduated from Mexico High School in 1943. He moved, with his parents, to Rumford in May of 1953. He lived in the area most of his life.

He entered the United States Army in 1944, and was discharged in 1947. He served in Europe, during World War II, with the 106th Infantry Division and later with the 382nd Military Police Battalion.

He was a veteran Rumford Police officer. He worked many years in retail sales and management in the Rumford area, Boston, Mass., and Rutland, Vt. He worked several years at the Maine Department of Labor Office, in Rumford, prior to his retirement.

Mr Howard was a member of the Robert Shand Post 1641, V.F.W. in Rumford and the Rabboni Masonic Lodge, Boston, Mass.

He formerly was a member of Penacook Lodge 130, I.O.O.F. Rumford; Napoleon Ouellette Post 24, American Legion; Rumford Maine Lodge 862, B.P.O.E.; Town of Rumford Planning Board and Finance Committee; Western Maine Law Enforcement Association; Director Silver Lake Camp Owners Association; President of the Rumford Lion’s Club; President of the Rumford Merchant’s Association; President and longtime Director of the Greater Rumford Chamber of Commerce. He had attended the Rumford Universalist Church and later the Mexico Congregational Church.

Survivors include his two brothers, Fred I. Howard and his wife Pat of South Portland and Ralph Howard and his wife Jane of South Portland; and several nieces and nephews.