Ernest Lee Howard

Ernest Lee Howard, 69

Ernest (Ernie) Lee Howard, 69, of West Portsmouth died Saturday, September 24, 2022 at The Ohio State University Medical Center. He was born June 25, 1953 in Portsmouth to the late Ezra and Louella Estep Howard. Along with his parents he is preceded in death by 4 brothers, Eddie Howard, David Howard, Ricky Howard, and Joe Howard, 2 sisters, Mary Sue Howard, and Bonnie Howard.  Ernie was a member of the Starlight Enterprise Baptist Church where he was a dedicated servant to his church family.

Ernie was a 1971 graduate of Portsmouth West High School.  A life-long resident of Dry Run, Ernie built a cabin on his grandfather’s farm with logs harvested from the property and where he enjoyed living with his wife

He was the proud owner of H & H Roofing Specialist in West Portsmouth for 46 years. During this time H & H became the exclusive metal fabricator for roofing supplies for McDonald’s nationwide.  He used his technical skills to roof houses for Scioto County Habitat for Humanity, where he served as a board member, and in Mexico where he built houses alongside former President Jimmy Carter.  With his dedication to Habitat for Humanity, he had a desire to visit the headquarters in Americus, Georgia, and during this visit also attended Maranatha Baptist Church in nearby Plains, Georgia, where he met Jimmy Carter and heard him lead the Sunday School service.  It was on this visit that the choir was on summer break and when asked for volunteers from the audience, Ernie volunteered and in doing so sang with the choir for the former President.

Ernie worked on his “bucket” list by traveling extensively with his wife to Canada, Panama, Italy, Ireland, Spain, France and Pakistan.  He was always interested in discovering and learning all he could during these travels.

An avid lover of golf, he participated in many golf leagues and tournaments in Scioto County. He received a certificate from the National Hole-In-One Association in Dallas, Texas, for a hole-in-one he made at the Elks Country Club in 1995 where, as a kid, he had been a caddy.

He is survived by his wife Deborah Frey Howard whom he married June 10, 1975, a son Ernest Lee Howard, a daughter Nicole Ella Howard, a brother James (Karen) Howard, 5 sisters, Judy Skaggs, Linda Martin, Rudy (Ben) Smith, Nancy (Bill) Hall, and Betsy (Jules) Altfas,  Uncle John Estep, and several nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by his beloved grandson whom he raised, Byron Noah Frost.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday October 1, 2022 at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth with Gary Burton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday starting a noon. Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com

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