Charles F. Howard of Blanchard, Michigan passed away on January 3, 2022 at the age of 94. A Celebration of his Life will be held at the Broomfield Township Cemetery at a later date. He was born June 14, 1927, the sixth of nine children born to Faber and Nellie Howard. He was raised on the family farm on Sherman Road in Broomfield Township and graduated from Remus Rural Agricultural School in 1944 at the age of 16. He joined the Merchant Marines when he turned 18 years old and sailed for five years on oil tankers that delivered oil from the Middle East to the United States. After returning home he purchased a farm in the Remus area. He married Alice May and they had one son, Dan F. Howard. Alice preceded him in death in 1954. Later he married Linda E. Townsend and they had two children, Vera Lee and Charles L. Howard. Along with farming Charles worked in several agricultural related jobs during his lifetime. These included working for the Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Michigan Animal Breeders Association for 17 years, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture for 20 years. He was a person that believed in hard work and honesty and instilled these characteristics in his family by example. He enjoyed rabbit hunting with his beagles, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and four wheeling at the cabin in the Upper Peninsula. In his later years he was an avid card player, and also spent many mornings at the coffee shop swapping stories with friends. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Linda; son Dan (Cindy) Howard, daughter Dr. Vera (Steve Keim) Kraft and son Charles L. (Tina) Howard; grandchildren Amy Howard, Alison (Mike) Himmesplach, Georgianna Collier, Joshua Kraft, Jason (Alyssa) Howard, Eric Howard, Chad (Jamie) Howard, Ashley (Aaron) Garver, Tatiana, Wasson, John, Nellie, and Jay Howard along with several great grandchildren; one brother, Ray (Sharon) Howard of Big Rapids and one sister, Laura Edinger of Lakeland, Florida; brother-in-law, James Kahrs of Fruitport, sister-in-law, Darlene Howard of Remus as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Alice, parents Nellie and Faber Howard, sisters Ruth Nelson and Mary Lou Kahrs, brothers William, Harry, Harold and Lester Howard, brothers-in-law James Nelson and Paul Edinger and sisters-in-law, Donna Howard, Betty Howard, and Gloria Howard. Share a memory, picture, or condolence for the family by clicking the guestbook tab at www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Daggett Funeral Home in Barryton.