AUBURN — Russell Mellen Howe, 82, of Auburn went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 26. He had recently been a resident of Clover Manor.

He was born in Greene on Sept. 15, 1928, the son of the late Mellen Clement and Marion Hazel (Bubier) Howe. He graduated from Lewiston High School, Class of 1946. He then served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in communications and traveling the world over.

From 1972 to 1989 he worked at Paul Canton, Marcotte and Louis Chevrolet auto dealerships. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts, both in Greene and several countries were he was stationed, especially during the years he spent in England.

After retiring from the military, he became involved with several of his Christian friends, who recognized a need for a home for the homeless in the L-A area. They found one in downtown Lewiston and, after months of renovation, opened Hope Haven Gospel Mission, which included a used clothing store, which proved to be a blessing for many area people.

His memberships included Faith Baptist Church in Auburn and American Legion Gayton Post No. 31.

On Aug. 9, 1951, he married the former Virginia Moore, who survives him, of Auburn. They were blessed with two daughters, Marjorie Howe, D.M.D., and her husband, Neil Brown, of Norway, and Marilyn Reynolds of South Paris; two grandchildren, Shawn Casey and his wife, Becca, of Falmouth, and Roseanne Reynolds of South Paris. He was also a proud great-grandfather of Clayton Casey of Falmouth.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Clover Health Care and Rehabilitation Center for their loving care of Russell.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.