Vernon E. "Mike" Howard, 72, of Newport News, Va., a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Born in Tasley, Mike grew up in Machipongo on the Eastern Shore. In 1952, he moved to the Peninsula and joined Newport News Shipbuilding, graduating from the Apprentice School and working 42 years before retiring in 1993. A longtime member of the Denbigh Lions Club, Mike was named a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lions Club International for dedicated humanitarian services and was awarded Lion of the Year 1993-1994. He also was a Life Member of the Elks Lodge #366, a member of the Newport News Shipyard X-42 Retirees Club and Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church. Mike is survived by his daughter, Sandy Howard of Richmond; son, Randy Howard and wife Patricia of Zuni; sister, Virginia Lee Widgen of Nassawadox; granddaughter, Nikki Howard of Newport News; and step-grandson, Daniel LaBouef of Zuni. He was preceded in death by his wife Margie O. "Nanny" Howard; and his parents, Weightman Reese Howard and Edna Smith Howard. A funeral service was conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home chapel, 245 S. Armistead Ave., Hampton, by the Rev. C. Douglas Smith, with interment following in Peninsula Memorial Park. The family received friends Monday, Nov. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated doctors and nursing staff in the I.C.U. at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Memorial donations may be sent to the Denbigh Lions, c/o LeRoy Ludi, 409 Dorothy Dr., Yorktown, VA 23692. Arrangements were made by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Hampton.

Obituary, Eastern Shore News, November 18, 2006.