Charles R. Howland

Charles Roberts Howland, 88, passed away June 30, 2019, surrounded by his loving family in his home in Granger, Indiana.
Chuck was born July 28, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. From the start he lived a truly remarkable life. His mother, Margaret Utley Howland, died while giving birth and his father, David Roy Howland, was left to raise him. He did so with the help of many, both family and non-family alike. Chuck had two older siblings, Bud and Betty.
At a young age he was introduced to one of the great loves of his life – Indian Lake, Michigan. That love would last his entire life, and be shared by his wife, children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy on Chicago’s south side, and then attended Mercersburg Academy, a college prep school in Pennsylvania. He was a student there when his father died while vacationing in Florida.
Chuck graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he played tennis, football (he jokes that he mainly rode the bench) and was the president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. And it was in arts and literature class where he met the woman who would change his life forever.
He and Charlene were married in 1951 and soon took up residence in “the shacks,” as the married student housing was called at Knox. Their first child, Diane, was born there, and even attended Chuck’s graduation.
They moved to Northbrook, Illinois, where they would make lifelong friends and maintain friendships from Knox. Debbie was born, then Roy, and then the family moved to Wilmette, Illinois. Then came Chick and Scott.
Years of memories were made in the three-story brick house on Seneca Road and at the cottage in Michigan. Despite the loss of family members and dear friends who died too young, Chuck’s life could only be described as happy and fulfilled. He laughed and made friends easily and Char and the children were always, always the focus of his days. They are the rare couple who were just as in love, if not more, as they approached their 68th wedding anniversary.
He spent most of his career in the sporting goods business, working for Riddell, among other companies.
He is survived by his wife, Char; children Diane (Sean), Debbie, Roy (Virginia), Chick (Kathy) and Scott (Marlene); 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 5, at McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 Indiana 23, enter off of Cherry Rd. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the Clay United Methodist Church, 52866 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, Indiana, 46635.
Donations in Chuck’s memory can be made to A Rosie Place for Children, which serves children who are medically fragile through respite care, arosieplace.org; or to the Clay Church food pantry.
We all miss Bompa already, but we know we will always feel his presence. Especially the next time we sit at the end of the pier at Indian Lake, dip our toes in the cool water and look at the beautiful sunset.