Clarence E. Howard

Our beloved Clarence Howard   known by family and friends as Bunch was born 95 years ago on March 26, 1921.  He was born to the late Ella Mae Howard Powell and the late Leroy Howard in Waycross, Georgia.  Clarence had very little memory of his birth place, because he moved to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania   with his grandmother Nancy McDonald at the young age of 5.  They moved to Glenwood where he lived among many uncles, aunts and cousins who had also moved from Georgia.  He was raised by his grandma whom he endearingly called mom.  Clarence said one of his earliest memories was at the age of five walking hand and hand with his teenage aunt Myra Miller, who was part of the McDonald clan who cared for him.

Clarence was educated at the Glenwood Primary School.  He later attended   Connelly Trade School where he studied carpentry and cabinet making.   Through the years he also gained certificates in auto body repair, photography and a host of other official documents of completions.

In 1945 Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in War World II.  He received an honorable discharge and to the end, was proud of his veteran status.  Whenever he would go to the store or on an outing, he would always wear his veteran’s hat with pride. He would go to no other health facilities except the Veterans Administration Hospital.

In 1950 Clarence united in marriage to Dolores Arnett.  They remained married until her death in 2012, a total of 62 years. 

Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Chicago Illinois where Clarence was gainfully employed for over 40 years.  Some of his work sites included but not limited to, The U.S. Navy,  building military weapons , Checker Cab in the auto body shop  and security work .   Clarence  also tried his hand at entrepreneurship by opening his own grocery store  and an auto parts store.

After forty plus years of employment in Chicago, Clarence and Dolores moved back home to Pittsburgh and resided in the family home on Madeira Street in Homewood.

 Prior to Dolores’ death, she was a faithful member of Bethany Baptist Church.  For many years, she prayed faithful for her husband and in time he became a faithful member as well.  He loved his church and his church family loved him.

Clarence was the patriarch of the McDonald Family.  Since 1977 when the McDonald Family Reunion was established, he did not miss any of them.  As the oldest member of the family, Clarence was able to account in detail the family history as well tell our story through his picture archive with some of the photos dating  back to the nineteenth century.  We would sit around for hours listening to the family’s oral history. 

 Clarence leaves to mourn one son Ronald King, one daughter Karen Gayle Cellars, one nephew Duane King, one niece  Michelle King, 19 Grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.