Walter Allen Howard Services for Walter Allen Howard 96 of Emmett, who died Saturday April 19, 2008 at home, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday April 26, 2008 at the Emmett Church of the Nazarene. Interment will follow at the Emmett Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 2 until 8 p.m. and the family will receive friends Friday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett. Walter Allen Howard was born in New Plymouth, Idaho on Sept. 8, 1911, the second eldest of seven children of Robert J. Howard Sr. and Alta Sisler Howard. He died of heart failure at home on April 19, 2008, surrounded by his family. Walter received his early education in Emmett, graduated from Emmett High School and then attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho where he met the love of his live, Iva Ax. In 1932, after their marriage, Walter began his farming careen on the Emmett Bench, starting from a modest beginning, originally renting ground to farm, and then later purchasing his own farm on which he and Iva built their home. In 1998, Walter was honored as Farmer of the Year. The list of his accomplishments in innovative and productive irrigation and farming practices is testimony that the award was well deserved. Not only was Walter a successful businessman but he was willing to share his leadership ability as evidenced by his board membership over the years for several organizations, not the least of which was Northwest Nazarene College where he served on the Board of Regents for many years. He also served on the Church of the Nazarene District Advisory Board, his local Emmett Nazarene Church Board, the Emmett Irrigation Board, Federal Land Bank Board, Walter Knox Memorial Hospital Board, and numerous others. Walter was a caring and generous man who loved his Lord, his church and his family. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Iva, sister, Frances and brothers Robert, Harry and Glen. He is survived by his three children, daughter, Helen Howard Roy (Steven), son, Walter A. Howard, Jr. (Elaine) and son, Ed Howard; two brothers Emery (Margaret) Howard and Dr. Quentin (Margie) Howard; eight grandchildren, Doug, Steve, and Joel Strang, Richard and Randy Howard, Sandee Howard Rentfro, Coline Howard Huff, and Polly Howard Owens, 16 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Published in the Idaho Statesman on 4/23/2008.