Mr. Donald Thomas Howard, age 88, a resident of 6000 River Road, Washington, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at UHS–Beaufort Hospital. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, officiated by Father Arturo Cabra. The family will receive friends following the service.

Mr. Howard was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Nov. 10, 1923, son of the late Louis Bernard Howard and the late Ava Mary Merrell Howard. Mr. Howard served in The Army Air Corp as a crewmember on a B-17 bomber in the 8th Air Force during the height of World War II. After the war, he attended Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice. Mr. Howard married the former Helen Audrey Ermatinger on June 9, 1951, who survives. Mr. Howard continued to serve his country as a Special Agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration where he retired in 1976, after thirty-four years of service. Upon retiring from the Federal Government, he returned to his beloved North Carolina where he worked as an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation in Raleigh. He eventually settled in eastern North Carolina where he initiated and developed the Criminal Justice program at Martin Community College. Mr. Howard was a beloved mentor and friend to many students and facility members. He was an active parishioner at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church of Washington, leader in the Mom’s and Pop’s group and founder of the St. Vincent De Paul Society at Mother of Mercy Church.

Surviving along with Mr. Howard’s wife, Helen, are two sons: Mark Howard of Washington and Jim Howard and his wife Nancy of Johnson City, Tenn.; a daughter: Ann Marie Howard Dooling and her husband Jim of Winterville; a brother:  Msgr. Vincent J. Howard of Chelsea, Mich.; and seven grandchildren.  Mr. Howard was preceded in death by four brothers: Father Joseph Howard, Bernard L. Howard, Merrell F. Howard and Leo E. Howard and three sisters: Mary Agnes Howard Kransy, Ruth Howard Grogan and Margaret Howard Ryan.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for memorials to be made to Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, Building Fund, 112 West 9th St., Washington, NC 27889 or The Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 3737 Glenwood Ave. Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Howard family.