Howard Webster Eloe

Howard was born May 11, 1925, to parents William Carl and Delight Miles Eloe in Aurora, Nebraska. He attended Aurora public schools where in high school he received superior ratings at state vocal music contests and all-conference and all-state recognition in football.

Howard enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served in World War II as a radar officer on the first escort aircraft carrier, the USS Long Island (CVE-1.) He was recalled for the Korean War, serving as an operations officer on a destroyer escort, USS Gilligan (DE508.) He received honorary retirement from the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1965.

Howard attended DePauw University with the Naval V-12 unit and received Navy commission from Notre Dame University Midshipman’s School in 1945. He earned a B.A. degree in psychology from DePauw in 1948, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega.

He married Mary Jo Ann (Kramer) Eloe on June 5, 1949, in Shenandoah, Iowa. They have two children, Beth and Paul, married to Laurie (Schneider.) Howard’s survivors include their children and four grandchildren, Skyler Reep, Joel Reep, Nathan Eloe, married to Wendy (King) and Katie Eloe, and three great grandchildren Jackson Guhlke, Riley Reep, and Olivia Reep. Preceding Howard in death are Jo Ann, his parents William and Delight Eloe, his brothers, Miles, Cecil, and Glen, and his sister Margaret.

Howard spent most of his professional life as a development officer in education. He held positions at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, and the University of Missouri-Rolla, retiring as executive director of development in 1990.

Howard was always an active community-minded soul. His memberships include: 70+ years membership in the Presbyterian Church, where he was ordained as an Elder and Deacon, and sang in the choir since age 14; 74 years membership as a Mason. Also as a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and 45+ years of service as a member of the International Shrine Clown Association; lifetime membership in the American Legion; memberships in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Navy League, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem - Knights of Malta, Rotary Club, a Tuesday lunch bunch, and his daily coffee group. His services to community included past trustee of Presbyterian Manors of Missouri and member of Board of Directors of Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation. Howard is included in both, “Who’s Who in Illinois” and “Who’s Who in the Midwest.”

Howard and Jo Ann moved from Rolla, Missouri to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1990 to enjoy family and the “high, dry country.” They also traveled extensively, and Howard loved golf, fishing, puzzles, and historical and archeological reading. Howard’s self-identified highlights of his personal life were the fun of being with his family, the satisfaction of clowning for children in support of various ministries, and the attempt to be kind to others. He paraphrased a plaque on a shelf in his “loon room” that says “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do, any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”

Friends are invited to First Presbyterian Church, 325 Elm St. in Idaho Falls on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., with the opportunity to visit family for the hour before. There will also be visitation Monday 6-8:00 p.m. at Buck-Murphy Funeral Home. Interment will be at Fielding Memorial Park with Full Military Honors provided by the Naval Honor Guard Team and the American Legion Bonneville Post #56.