Rodanthe, NC
Claude Dudley Howard, 86, of Rodanthe, NC died Thursday, August 27, 2009 at The Outer Banks Hospital. Born in Cary, NC, he was the son of the late Barton Hill Howard and Captain Mary Dudley Howard. He was a retired veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps having served for 20 years including tours during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was also a former public school teacher, a founding member of the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire Department, and a very active volunteer of the Dare County EMS on Hatteras Island.
Mr. Howard is survived by his wife, Nancy Wilkerson Dickens Howard of the residence; a son, Claude Dudley Howard, Jr. and wife, Sara of Tallahassee, FL; a grandson, Christopher D. Howard of Sacramento, CA; and two step grandsons, Major Gerald Caldwell, USMC and Ralph E. Caldwell.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 1:00 PM at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building by the Rev. Tom Murphy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 125, Rodanthe, NC 27968.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Colony Chapel, Manteo, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.
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RICHARD AND ELOISE THRELKELD
OK, get this…..in 1971 we were freshly married, living in California, and ventured in a 1952 Chevy schoolbus for a trip of a lifetime. Drove from CA, left with $100 for gas and earning $$ as we went, and in 1972 were at the Outer Banks. Doing our wash in a KOA, we met Nancy (what a love). We were invited to eat at Claude and Nancy’s after Claude got home with his fish. Now, she was a principal and he was a teacher, if I recall, and that’s how they met? We laughed and cried with the best fish and hushpuppies, white corn, beans, and a fifth of whisky. The chiwahas (sp? small yippy Mexican dogs) were yelping and we were laughing so hard we cried. God, that’s such a memory we both love. Such unqualified welcome we got from them. As I recall, they said, “It’s so refreshing to speak with someone who speaks English.” Dunno. Got grandbabies and responsibilities now, but we’ll never forget…never stop loving a couple who we loved for a day. Sheesh, what a fine couple (but those yippy dogs=?)
Thanks, family….I’m sure they were super.
Sara W. Howard
It is with great sorrow when we lost my husband’s dad. He was an exemplary person with many accomplishments. He greatly improved Rodanthe. They now have a Rescue Squad which covers miles of the Outer Banks. So many owe their lives to Claude. Our visits were rare due to the distance between us. We lived in Florida. We did have three wonderful visits which included my parents and all three grandchildren. My parents lived in Louisiana. Claude had a twenty-year career in the Marine Corps Career. He was a veteran of WWII and fought on Iwo Jima and in Korea where his tank was hit by artillery. His entire tank crew was killed.
This is a late obituary because I have been ill since 2012 and am recovering. My family lives in North Carolina, South Carolina and California. We live in Columbia, S.C.