Ronald 'Ron' James Howard of Farmington, NH passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday May 8, 2024, at the age of 85 after losing his battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Ron was born November 15, 1938 to Everett and Marion Howard in Rochester, NH and lived the rest of his life in his hometown of Farmington, NH.

Throughout his life Ron enjoyed many things, but his love of sports defined a big part of who he was. During his youth he played basketball and baseball and as an adult played and coached basketball and slow-pitch softball in men's leagues. For about 50 years what he enjoyed most was coaching boys and girls in basketball, baseball and softball through the Farmington 500 Boys and Girls Club and other youth organizations. In 1984 he organized the first basketball tournament at the junior high level for Farmington and surrounding towns which has continued annually and is now known as The Ron Howard Junior High Basketball Tournament. For 11 years he recruited and coached Fulton's Ramblers, a team named after his cousin, some of the best boys' high school basketball teams in the state to play at the Connie Bean Classic Tournament in Portsmouth, NH; winning 8 out of the 11 years. In the early 2000's he coached a Farmington girls basketball travel team and the Farmington High School Varsity Softball team. He was proud of all the individuals he coached which included his children and grandchildren of whom he was especially proud. In 2006 his sports accomplishments were recognized when he was inducted into the Farmington Sports Hall of Fame. Ron took pride in the town he loved and was proud to call himself a Farmington Tiger.

Sports aside, Ron enjoyed watching harness horse racing, riding with his wife on their motorcycle and telling stories of his life. After high school he was in the Army Reserves for 6 years. He worked most of his life in the shoe industry installing and repairing injection molding machines from Italy and Germany; traveling to factories across the United States, Canada, Haiti, Central and South America. After retirement, Ron worked for the Strafford County Superior Court as a bailiff for 17 years.

Ron lived a full life, loved and cared for his family more than they knew and as he always said, "It is what it is".

Ron was predeceased by his parents, Everett and Marion Howard, and a son-in-law Shawn Vaughn.

Ron is survived by his wife of 44 years, Candy Howard; his brother, Donald Howard; six children James Howard, Beth Vaughn, Casey Howard (wife Patty), Allen Howard (wife Jill), Ronald Howard Jr., and Breanna Kincaid (husband William); ten grandchildren, Crystal Bailey (husband Brian), Shannen Lynch (husband Shaun), Nolan Chretien (wife Ella), Nick Chretien (wife Lexi), Ben and Josh Howard, Chris and Olivia Howard, Piper and Warren Kincaid; nine great grandchildren, Tennly, Emmy, and Lydia Bailey, Parker, Payten, and Paxton Lynch, Colton and Carter Chretien, and Dallas Chretien; a niece and nephews.

A celebration service will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 4 pm at the Advent Christian Church, 47 Orange Street, Farmington, NH. Everyone will be encouraged to tell their memories of Ronald.

The family extends a sincere thank you to the hospice team at Cornerstone VNA in Rochester, NH, for their support and compassion to Ron and his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society, 221 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820; Farmington 500 Boys and Girls Club, PO Box 404, Farmington 03835; or Cornerstone VNA, 178 Farmington Road, Rochester, NH 03867.

Cremation care by Peaslee Funeral Home. To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com