Harold Francis Howard Jr. (Hal), beloved father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, and lifelong sports enthusiast, passed away from complications after a courageous and ongoing battle with cancer. He leaves behind a life marked by adventure, service, hard work, an abiding love of family, and an enthusiasm for sports and the people who shared those pursuits with him.

Hal was born in Hartford, Vermont, in 1946, the son of Colonel Harold Howard and Florence (Tracy) Howard. As the youngest of six children and the son of a career Army officer, Hal was an "Army brat" from the very beginning, traveling the world with his family and learning early how to adapt, make friends, and find adventure wherever he landed. Among early family memories were days Hal spent learning to walk on board ship to the Philippines where he and his siblings rode out cyclones under the watchful eyes of his older sisters. By the time he reached 5th grade, Hal had already lived in three countries and seven states. As a teenager, sailing with the family back and forth on the SS United States to Europe, he shared a stateroom with President Eisenhower's grandson after a stop in Ireland to pick up the President and his family.

Sports became a defining part of Hal's childhood. By fifth grade, he was playing baseball in the Panama Armed Forces Little League. In sixth and seventh grade, he was back in the United States, playing at East Point Little League outside Atlanta. As a freshman and sophomore in high school, he continued playing baseball and excelled on the tennis team while attending school in Heidelberg, Germany. He returned to the US and graduated high school from Notre Dame in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where he distinguished himself as an exceptional baseball player, also lettering in basketball and captaining golf and tennis teams.

Hal attended Johnson State College for two years, where he continued to excel at baseball as a second baseman, base stealer, and batting over.400. It was also at Johnson that he met his future wife, Evelyn, at the freshman dance mixer. He later transferred to the University of Vermont in 1968, earning his B.A. in History-"barely," he would probably be quick to add with a laugh.

Following the footsteps of his father, Colonel Howard, and his older brother Tom, Hal entered military service. He completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir and Ordinance and Supply training in Maryland and Virginia, where his aptitude and high IQ caught the attention of the CIA- a prospect he respectfully declined: " too many spooks in the world already" In 1970, he was stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany, where Evelyn joined him. They enjoyed many trips exploring Europe. Their first son, Harold III ("Chip"), was born in Heidelberg, Germany in 1971. Hal was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1972.

With no certain idea yet of where life would take him, Hal explored a variety of opportunities and earned insurance certifications before beginning what would become a significant chapter of his career with W.E. Aubuchon Hardware. Starting as an intern, he worked his way through sales and assistant management, first in Waterbury, Vermont, where his youngest son, Andy, was born.

In 1975, Hal moved to Saranac Lake, New York, to lead what was then the largest grand opening in the history of Aubuchon Hardware, earning a trip to Hawaii for him and Evelyn with the Aubuchon family. He distinguished himself not only as a store manager but as a community member during an extraordinary period in the Adirondacks, as activity surged leading into the 1980 Winter Olympics in neighboring Lake Placid. He attended with family many of the preliminary round events enjoying bobsledding and ski jumping, and was at the Sweden "play-in" round where USA Miracle hockey team secured a tie against Sweden, catapulting them into the medal round against the USSR. .

By 1980, with Saranac Lake Aubuchon Hardware firmly established, Hal was called upon to open and lead a new Aubuchon location in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. There, he became recognized by Aubuchon as one of the premier Glidden paint salespeople among all the New England stores. Although this appealed to his competitive nature, more importantly, his tenure was also marked by consistency (he went a stretch of more than 10 years without calling out sick) and a reputation with the regulars of honesty and a "customer-first" approach. .

St. Johnsbury became home, and the 1980s were among the most active and memorable years of Hal's life. He won various bowling, tennis, golf, softball league championships while enthusiastically chasing after Chip and Andy as they discovered one sport after another. He coached Little League baseball and supported their soccer, basketball, tennis, and other adventures.

But perhaps no activity captured Hal's spirit quite like golf. Every Wednesday, he joined his golf crew and traveled to courses throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine for spirited matches filled with camaraderie, competition, laughter, and all the trappings that make a day out with the guys memorable.

The St. Johnsbury Country Club was his golf headquarters. Outside of winning events, Hal loved sharing the game with his sons. He taught them that golf was about much more than a score and hitting a ball-it was a lesson in patience, integrity, humility, and character. Those were qualities Hal himself embodied throughout his life.

Family was one of the great joys of Hal's life. Routine trips across the state to spend Easter, Memorial Day, July4, Labor Day, Masters Sunday, and Thanksgiving with the Howard clan on Cherry Hill Rd; spirited games of wiffle ball and pickle with his sons, nieces, and nephews were a highlight of the spring, summer, and fall. He reveled in trips to Boston for Red Sox games and Marathon Monday with his brother Tom, son Andy, and his niece Kate. He and Tom also made annual pilgrimages to Cooperstown, celebrating the history of the game they loved so much, meeting new and rekindling old friendships over a beer (or two), and reveling in the hatred of the Yankees.

Hal was also a devoted spectator of the next generation. He eagerly followed his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as they grew up, attending games and following every swing, dribble, shot, and pitch. He took enormous pride in their accomplishments and, in many ways, lived vicariously through them on the playing fields. He was a proud and enthusiastic supporter who could always be counted on to show up and offer sage advice.

As his sons grew older and moved on to build lives of their own, Hal entered another season of his life, always looking for the next challenge or opportunity. He spent some time in the insurance business before eventually semi-retiring to Florida, where he was able to spend more time with his mother, Florence, and establish many new friends in New Smyrna Beach, down the Ponce Inlet, at the famous JB Fish Camp where he worked, and held court with a faithful group of friends.

When Florence grew older, Hal returned with her to Montpelier, VT. He became her companion and part-time caregiver, sharing precious time with her as she gracefully lived to the remarkable age of 106. He cared for her with the same patience and love that he had brought to so many other relationships throughout his life.

In his final years, Hal's world became a little smaller, but his enjoyment of life never disappeared. Hal was an avid reader devouring world war and sports non-fiction. He also was a deep and insightful thinker compelled to write poems and stories as well as dive into meaningful conversation with stranger and friend alike. Socially, he settled into a cherished weekly ritual of "lunch and a beer," at the Three Penny Taproom with the faithful companionship of his brother Tom, swapping stories with staff and regulars, often surrounded by laughter, but never afraid to remind a rowdy "flat lander" to mind their manners. Hal could also be found off commiserating with the local VFW crowd, enjoying new debates and opportunities to show his quick wit and search for understanding and connection with those around him. A compendium of historical knowledge he was always searching for the latest "Band of Brothers"-esque series on Netflix and, depending on the season, became absorbed in the latest Red Sox or and Celtics roller coaster of heartbreak and elation. He made yearly trips to Virginia and South Carolina to follow his grandsons' exploits in high school and college baseball, earning Facebook badges as #1Fan along the way.

Hal lived a life that rarely stayed in one place. From the Philippines to Panama, Germany to Vermont, Georgia to Florida and back, he carried with him a love of competition, adventure, friendship, and family-as an athlete, soldier, salesman, dancer, singer, coach, golfer, poet, sports fan, and caretaker. His wisdom and deep curiosity about humanity gave him unusual insight into people, allowing him to connect just as easily with a fellow veteran, rough around the edges and carrying the scars of war, as with an 11-year-old kid from the wrong side of the tracks who needed a caring coach and steady male role model for a few hours each week. His legacy will live on in the people he loved, the lessons he taught, and the countless games, golf rounds, meals, beers, and conversations that became lasting memories

Hal was predeceased by his parents Harold and Florence; sisters Jane Goodall(CA), Marilyn Ackenhausen(OR), and Carol Little(MD). He is survived by his sons Andrew Turner Howard (MA) and Harold (Chip)F. Howard III (SC); his grandchildren Dylan (SC), Hunter (SC), Xavier (MA), and Vivian (MA); his sister Gail Bradford(AL) and brother Tom (Suzanne) (VT); numerous nieces and nephews.

Hal will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

A celebration of life with be held at Three Penny Tap Room in Montpelier from 1-4pm Saturday, October 17th to share bites, drinks, and memories in honor of Hal.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Return House in Barre supporting Elevate Youth Services https://www.elevateyouthvt.org/donate.

Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Home. To share online condolences, please visit www.guareandsons.com.