Graveside services for Leslie “Dean” Howard, 80, of Lawrence, will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Howard passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at his home, surrounded by his family.
He was born November 5, 1944 in Gatesville, Texas to Robert C. Howard and Anna “Viola” Stein. His family moved to Lawrence when he was 2 years old. Dean attended Bismarck School and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1962.
Mr. Howard was an over-the-road truck driver for many years, working for Lawrence Freight Line and retiring from Penske’s. He then worked in custodial services at the University of Kansas until retiring. He attended Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene where he drove the bus picking up kids on Sunday mornings. He later transferred his membership to Central United Methodist Church.
According to Dean’s brother Bob, during his junior high and high school years he enjoyed roller skating and playing pool. Bob says he was a pretty good at both and able to perform any pool trick shot at that time.
He married Carol Penny in 1967. They later divorced. He then married Wanda Knapp on December 1, 1988 in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on December 26, 2018.
Dean enjoyed the outdoors and he and Wanda loved to travel in their motorhome. They would spend winters in Bandera, Texas, come home to Lawrence for a visit, and then travel to Colorado and other states enjoying the country.
Survivors include two sons, Todd Howard and Timothy Copp, both of Lawrence, KS; two daughters, Jama (Jeff) Carter, of Ottawa, KS and Tammy (Jon) Barta, Lawrence KS; a brother, Robert (Louise) Howard 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 more coming soon.
Visitation will be before and after the service at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1517 E. 15th Street.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society and to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for Kerrville Flood victims, where Dean and Wanda frequented on their winter stays in Texas, both sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com
