John Howard (Harold Johnson Howard II) passed away peacefully on February 22, 2025. He was born on August 4, 1927, in Mt. Vernon to the late Harold and Janie Howard. John was preceded in death in 2020 by his wife and high school sweetheart, Ann Warner, to whom he was married for 69 years.
A proud graduate of the Mt. Vernon schools and DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, John also furthered his education at the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the National Trust School. His academic journey was paused when he was drafted into the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, where he honorably served in the Philippines.
John was a lifelong resident of Mt. Vernon who deeply loved his community and its people. He prided himself on knowing as many people and their connections to others as possible. John spent 31 years at Security Bank & Trust Co. and was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon. His passion for service extended through a variety of local organizations. He served as a third-generation Mt. Vernon City Councilman and treasurer for the Illinois State Historical Society. In addition, John was actively involved with the Mt. Vernon Little House Foundation, Mt. Vernon Oakwood Cemetery Association, World Affairs Forum of Mt. Vernon, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Jefferson County Red Cross, United Way of South-Central Illinois, Girl Scouts, District 80 Board of Education, and Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
John was a third-generation Rotarian, where he served as president and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He also is the namesake of the Rotary Club’s John Howard Community Service Scholarship at Mt. Vernon Township High School.
He had a keen interest in local history and was especially proud of his volunteer work with the Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS) and Historical Village. Since becoming a member in the 1970s, John served on the board of directors, as president, and as a docent. He was inducted into the JCHS Wall of Fame for his continued dedication and outstanding contributions.
John has been celebrated many times for his community efforts with honors including: Illinois Humanities Council’s Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award, Illinois Association of Museums Award of Distinction for Lifetime Volunteer, Senior Saint, and Mt. Vernon Township High School Outstanding Alumnus and Distinguished Alumnus awards. He will posthumously receive the 2025 Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Presidential Award.
John valued his involvement in the Washington University Memory and Aging Project and his experiences as an Honor Flight participant.
In addition to his wife, John was preceded in death by his son, John “Hondo” Howard, his parents, and four siblings (Robert, Jane, Mary, and Sue). He leaves behind his daughters, Nancy (Eddy) Hardin of Marysville, Ohio, and Barb (Gerald) Lommen of Ballwin, Missouri. He is also survived by his grandchildren: John Hardin of Dublin, Ohio; Paul (Brittney) Hardin of Delaware, Ohio; Katie Lommen of St. Louis, Missouri; Sarah Lommen of Des Moines, Iowa; and great-grandchildren, Nora and Ella Hardin of Delaware, Ohio.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hughey Funeral Home with the funeral directly following. Memorials can be made to JCHS, Mt. Vernon Rotary John Howard Community Service Scholarship or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.