Mr. and Mrs. Lewis P. Howard, Daughter Beth Howard
The crash early Thursday morning near Cairo of a Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 720B jet took the lives of three members of the same family, long resident in Ras Tanura.
Among the 121 victims of last weekend's air tragedy were Mr. and Mrs. Lewis P. Howard and their nine-year-old daughter, Beth. They had departed Dhahran earlier that morning for the United States, via London, on repatriation vacation.
The only survivor in the immediate family is Richard Howard, who graduates next month from Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Mr. Howard, born in Bridgton, Maine, and holder of an engineering degree from the University of Michigan, had spent most of his more than ten years with Aramco in Ras Tanura, where his earliest positions were with the Safety Division and as an area engineer with Maintenance and Shops. He joined the Home Ownership Division in early 1959 as a field representative, later becoming superintendent. Since last November he had been with the Technical Services Department as an engineer.
Both Howard and his wife, Marian, took active roles in the life of the Gulf community where they lived. The father was for some time chairman of the local Troop Committee of the Boy Scouts and watched his son Richard attain the rank of Eagle.
Mrs. Howard headed the Charities Committee of the Ras Tanura Women's Group, served on the Recreation Library Committee, was high up on the district's tennis ladder and found time for painting and drawing. Music, however, was Marian Howard's consuming interest. She is well remembered for her numerous appearances on local theater stages, where the AEA has presented her over the years in concerts of folk music, singing to her own accompaniment on the harp, auto-harp and Kentucky dulcimer. As Nellie Forbush she had the feminine lead in 1958 performances of "South Pacific" in Dhahran. Marian Howard sang in recitals and concerts in Holland in 1957 and 1960, recorded a special program for the Voice of America and appeared on television, also in The Netherlands. Perhaps best known to Ras Tanura parents especially was Marian Howard's talent for working with children in the field of music. An interest in that medium of expression has been kindled in many a youngster through her creative leadership in songs, dances and musical games.
Memorial services were held for Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Beth Sunday morning in Ras Tanura and on Monday in Dhahran.
Mrs. Howard's sister is Mrs. Melvin Beland, 1100 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis, Michigan. Mr. Howard's family can be reached through Mr. L. P. Howard, 14 Cottage Street, Bridgton, Maine.
Through the columns of Sun and Flare we would like to express our appreciation for the many kindnesses shown by the Aramco friends of the Lewis P. Howard family. We are grateful, both to Aramco and the individuals involved, for the memorial services which were held, and have been heartened by the letters and flowers which have come to us. We send our thanks to all who helped. Most sincerely, Laurence and Ruth Howard.