Obituary: Howard, Alexander H. “Ham”

HOWARD, Alexander H. “Ham” (Age 94) Memorial Services for Alexander Hamilton “Ham” Howard Jr. will be held on February 1, 2014, in Hebler Hall Auditorium on the Central Washington University campus at 1:00 p.m. Remembrances can be made to the CWU Foundation to support the Howard Family Scholarship, in support of College of the Sciences/Science Education.

400 E. University Way, Ellensburg Washington 98926-7508.

(https://www.mycentral.cwu.edu/sslpage.aspx?pid=645) Alexander H. “Ham” Howard, Jr., 94, of Ellensburg, a retired Central Washington University professor, died January 7, 2014.

Ham was born June 26, 1919, in Seattle, Washington, and grew up and attended schools in Hyak and Ellensburg, WA, graduating Ellensburg High School in 1936.

He attended Central Washington College of Education (now CWU) from 1936 until 1941, where he majored in science and math and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

In the fall of 1941, Ham obtained a job in Hoquiam, WA, teaching sixth grade at Washington School and coaching the school’s athletic teams.

When the United States entered World War II, Ham enlisted in the armed forces, entering the U.S. Army Air Corps cadet school at UCLA.

Ham served as a meteorologist flying in Boeing B-29s in the Pacific theater.

He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for the next 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Ham returned to Central in the fall of 1946, where he met Dorothy J. Swope.

The two were married in Yakima in 1947.

The couple then pursued graduate degrees at the University of Chicago, where Ham obtained both a Masters and a Doctorate in Education.

He returned to Central to manage the visual education program, did a stint leading the ROTC, and taught education at Central from 1950 to 1989.

Ham loved playing chess, Chinese checkers, two-bounce basketball, pool, and poker.

He was also passionate about woodworking, limericks, crossword puzzles, and shaggy dog stories.

He was active in the Ellensburg community and was a long-time Kiwanis member.

Ham is survived by his wife, Dorothy J. Howard of Ellensburg; daughter, Nancy (Dick Logan) Howard of Wenatchee; sons, A.H. “Andy” (Carrie) Howard III of Kenmore and John (Marjan) Howard, MD, of Spokane, and grandchildren Erik (Sondra), Elsa, Allison, Tessa, Maisie, and Lily.

Messages for the family can be left at www.steward-williams.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kvnews/obituary.aspx?n=alexander-h-howard-ham&pid=168993586#sthash.YshO01bo.dpuf