Frank S. “Bud” Howard, III, 87, of Indianapolis, passed away Oct. 24, 2014, after a long illness. He was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Chicago, the son of Margaret Toppan and Frank S. Howard, Jr.
Bud married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret “Peg” VanNuys on Jan. 13, 1950, and they have been married for over 64 years.
Bud Howard graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1945 and from Indiana University in 1950 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He served in the Marine Corps and the Army National Guard Reserves. He was a manufacturer’s representative and owner of Frank S. Howard Company for over 40 years. After retirement, he helped form the Lake Lemon Conservancy in Unionville, Ind., and served as the treasurer for many years. He was a member of Cottonwood Christian Church in Morgantown, Ind. Bud was an avid fan of IU Basketball, Colts football, and Pacers basketball. He enjoyed boating and the outdoors, but his greatest love was his family.
After suffering the loss of their son Steve to cancer, the Howards worked tirelessly to affect change for families undergoing cancer treatments. Upon learning that the former Indiana University Cyclotron was being converted to a proton therapy treatment center, Bud and Peg set about raising the necessary funds to build a facility for patients and their families. Bud and his wife, Peg, founded Jill’s House in Bloomington, Ind., a hospitality house for patients undergoing life-saving treatments at the Midwest Proton Therapy Institute.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Margaret “Peggy” A. (Robert) Vest of New Palestine, and Susan K. Howard of Norristown, Pa.; three sons, David S. (Sue) Howard of Indianapolis, Jeffrey W. (Shari) Howard of Indianapolis, and Douglas G. (Kim) Howard of Avon; a sister, Carolyn “Katie” Jordan of Leon, Iowa; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Steven T. Howard; and both parents.
Visitation will be from 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Rd. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Riley Children’s Hospital, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at www.shirleybrothers.com.
