Richard Charles Howard, of North Thetford, passed away at his home on August 3, 2016, of complications from Melanoma.
He was born on July 17, 1933 in Framingham, Massachusetts. His parents, Frederick Porter Howard and Antoinette Grace Pepin, predeceased him.

Dick attended Thetford schools, and graduated from Thetford Academy in 1951, the valedictorian of his class. He served in the Navy from 1956 to 1958, on the USS Arcadia in the Mediterranean. Upon discharge, he returned to Thetford and worked on a number of regional construction projects, including the Moore Dam, Interstates 89 and 91, and the Hopkins Center and Leverone Field House at Dartmouth. He established his own general excavating business, specializing in ponds. Dick was also a capable dowser, and he was often called upon to locate potential water sources.

An avid hunter and fisherman, he was one of the founders of the Upper Valley Fish and Game Club and was a Hunter's Safety instructor. He also served on Thetford's Zoning and Planning Commission, personally concerned with land use issues in the valley. Dick returned to his family farm following his father's retirement in 1985. He was deeply committed to continuing the original Howard Homestead farm into the eighth generation and beyond. He continued to spend each day at the farm, never retiring, sharing his love of animals and the land with those around him, until his final days.

He was a wealth of local historical knowledge, remembering and recounting many facts and stories. He could be relied upon to provide details of former houses, old roads, and childhood acquaintances. He was immersed in his environment, with an encyclopedic knowledge of local flora and fauna, geology, and climate. He was as comfortable in the woods as in the fields, and spent winter months logging and sugaring. He could fix "damned near anything" that broke, and it was often better than new, with a few tweaks. His favorite places were on the banks of the Connecticut River, on High Peak, and driving one of many red tractors. He was a sports fan, following regional teams, but liked nothing better than enjoying the athletic accomplishments of his grandchildren. He was also a connoisseur of homemade treats, especially pineapple upside-down cake, and anything chocolate. He often reminded his family that "he'd forgotten more than they'd ever know," which epitomized his remarkable life.

Richard is survived by Roberta (Coleman) Howard, his wife and best friend, for more than 54 years. Also daughters Martha Howard, Melissa Malloy, and Miranda Martin, son, Richard Jr., daughter-in-law Lori Howard, and sons-in-law Andrew Martin and Mark Malloy. He was affectionately known as "Poppy" to his 13 grandchildren: Susannah, Neil and Nolan Howard; Tyler and Katherine Howard, Matthew and Kelsi Jenks; Carley and Ryan Malloy; and Amanda, Andrew, Lindsey, and Zachary Martin.

A private service will be held, in accordance with his wishes. The family invites you to gather at Richard and Roberta's home on Saturday, August 13th, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, to share memories.

Donations in Richard's memory may be made to the Frederick Porter Howard Scholarship Fund, c/o Thetford Academy, PO Box 190, Thetford Vermont, which supports graduating students continuing their education in environmental sciences or conservation.