November 22, 1947 - June 3, 2023
On June 3, 2023, Wayne L. Howe of Jackson, California, age 75, died from a heart attack in Southern California. His daughter Tricia and son-in-law Efrain “Chris” Esparza were right beside him. The world has lost a wonderful husband, brother, brother-in-law, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
In 1947, on November 22nd, Wayne was born. In Tell City, Indiana, to Frank and Lucille Howe. He and his family moved to Stockton, California, when he was a little child. Following his graduation from Franklin High School in 1965, Wayne enrolled in Delta College with an engineering major. (He needed a few more credits to earn his AA.) He and his wife Patricia made Jackson, California their home.
He was given the opportunity to work as an engineer at Valley Industries, where he helped design hitches, beginning an 18-year career in engineering. Wayne relocated to Jackson, California in 1989 and started working as a millwright for Georgia Pacific, where he stayed through all the company’s changes.
One of his best moments in life was when he married Patricia, his true love, in 1967. Patricia was everything to him, and she was his sole source of motivation. Did you know they were the neighborhood’s sweethearts? Tricia and Tisha, their identical twin daughters, were born in 1971. They soon after welcomed Malissa, another daughter, into the family in 1973.
His girls all understood how much he loved them and how he always made time to “Smell the Roses” He would simply talk to us while telling us stories, never failing to show us how much he loved us.
Wayne is survived by a wife, Patricia, and Three children: Tricia, Tisha, and Malissa. He also had eight loving grandchildren: Jadin, Christian, Andres “Andy”, Eric, Christina, Austin, Jennifer, and Mandy. He also was blessed to have two great-grandchildren: Amelia and Violet. He is also survived by one brother Gary Howe and Stepsister Lucy Soria. (He has now been reunited with his mother, father, and two additional brothers, Donald, and Larry Howe)
Wayne is a Vietnam War veteran. He proudly served in the Air Force, rising to the rank of Sargent. In Wayne’s life, his time in the Air Force had a significant impact. He said the Air Force taught him something bigger than himself. Many Vietnam War Veterans kept quiet about the horrors they faced while defending the honored values of democracy and freedom for a variety of reasons. Many veterans who were returning to American soil only wished to escape their wartime nightmares. Many people were incredibly humble about their selfless and brave acts. And for many others, their experiences were simply too upsetting to discuss. When questioned, he often talked about his experiences, including parachute jumping, making, and losing a lot of friends. Later in life, I learned that his best buddy had saved his life.
Since his retirement in 2011, he has made time to visit his daughters, He also enjoyed visiting casinos! But his biggest achievement came when he gave his entire life to God while serving in the Air Force.
On July 5, 2023, at 1:00 PM, services will be held in Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi, California. You can send flowers to Wayne Howe at Cherokee Memorial Park.
On July 7, 2023, at 2:00 pm, a military burial will be held at Bakersfield National Cemetery. The playing of Taps will be followed by the folding and presentation of the American flag. The last resting place for his wife, daughter Tricia, and son-in-law Efrain “Chris” will be the same cemetery. Members of the Air Force and his immediate relatives will lay him to rest.
Wayne was always a friendly, caring, and loving individual. He adored his wife, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters-in-laws, mother-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family (first, second, third, etc. cousins), and friends. All of them, he sincerely loved.
His parting words are his favorite proverb: “Take Time to Smell the Roses” To be able to experience and appreciate more of the environment around you entails consciously training your mind to be attentive and present at the moment.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Howe family.