HUGH HOWARTH age 97, of Coddington Road, Ithaca, NY passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 at the Hospicare Residence in Ithaca. Hugh was born in Plainville, CT a son of the late John Albert Howarth and Anna Ewen Barnum. Hugh moved from Jamaica, N.Y. with his mother and two sisters at the age of 14. The family located in Canaan near Dryden/Caroline, N.Y. Hugh cut and sold wood for 50 cents a cord to support his family. His wife, Elsie Giles Howarth, died December 27, 2001. Hugh had been employed at The Erie Lackawanna Railroad in Elmira, N.Y., Mohawk Airlines, High Speed Check Weighing Co., Agway Inc., retiring from Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital as a Maintenance Electrician in 1989. He was also one of the two maintenance-technicians who ensured that the Burroughs 220 computer (which occupied most of Rand Hall at Cornell University) ran smoothly. He was a 60+ year member of Caroline Lodge #681 F. & A.M., and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Hugh was a WWII veteran and served honorably in the US Army Air Corps. He also served in the CCCs/ Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.
Survivors include his children, Sharon (Richard) Matthews of Ithaca, Joanne (James) Wilcox of King Ferry, Thomas W. Howarth of Ithaca and John Howarth (Barbara) of Pittsboro, NC; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a son, Jeffery A. Howarth who died in 2013 and his sisters, Alice Tilton and Mary Tingen.
A special thank you to Hospicare of Ithaca, Dr. Law and Redmoon Caregivers. A private family service will be held at a convenient time. There are no calling hours. Burial will be in South Hill Cemetery, Ithaca. Perkins Funeral Home assisted the family. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com
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