Obituary of Kenneth Howes, Jr.

Kenneth Howes, Jr., (father of Darien resident Kenneth "Obie" Harrington-Howes), died peacefully at his son's home where he had lived for the past several years. A son of the late Kenneth Howes, Sr., and Edith Perkins Howes, was born on August 2, 1924 in Boston, MA. He was educated, worked and retired all in the Boston area, until his move to his son's home in Darien. During WWII, he served from 1942 until 1944 as an ambulance driver with The American Field Service in North Africa and Italy. He was married to Augusta Peabody Wolcott and had four children. Mr. Howes, known to all as "Bankie", was an avid skier, tennis player, golfer, sailor, and vegetable gardener, but was most at peace while on his tractor mowing his lawn in Framingham, MA. He was a gifted speaker and storyteller, renowned for his after dinner recitations Most of all, "Bankie" was a wonderful friend and caretaker of many. As a banker he helped people organize their financial lives, as a volunteer he served on the boards of Framingham (MA) Union Hospital and The Massachusetts Arthritis Foundation, as a friend he was the quintessential host, constantly concerned about others, and as a family man he was always there for his wife, children, and others. All will remember him fondly. Mr. Howes is survived by his children Francis Valiente of Tucson, AZ, Anna Betz and her husband John of Cornwall, VT, and Kenneth (Obie) Harrington-Howes and his wife Beth of Darien, CT. He is also survived by his three siblings Osborn (Laura) Howes of Kentfield, CA, Nancy Kennick of Amherst, MA, and Edith (Joseph) Cary of Mansfield, CT. "Bankie" also leaves 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Beside his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 63 years and, earlier this year, by his daughter Madeleine (Lili) Howes. Obie and Beth would like to thank "Bankie's" caregivers, Luc Pierre and Jean Felix, for their constant love and devotion during his last years. They were wonderful. "Bankie" donated his body to medical research. There will be a memorial gathering in his honor at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation (P.O. Box 2221, Darien, CT 06820 or www.ohhf.org), originally founded to benefit his son following his spinal cord injury and now being used to help spinal cord injured individuals in Connecticut. At a healing service held in Darien following Obie's accident in 1997, "Bankie" famously said, "I knew there were a lot of nice people in the world, I just didn't know so many of them lived in Darien." For information regarding a reception, please contact Kenneth "Obie" Harrington-Howes at 203-554-0468 or obiehh@yahoo.com. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820