James “Jim” Hyland Howard, D.V.M, 80, of Wooster passed away July 10, 2022, at West View Healthy Living.
He was born October 18, 1941, in Plymouth, IN, to Charles O. and Ethelyn Steelman Howard. He married Susan “Sue” Clough on July 27, 1962. She survives.
Growing up and spending his early years on a small family farm in rural Indiana, Jim knew at a very early age he wanted to be a veterinarian. He graduated from Iowa State University in Ames with a D.V.M. in 1965. Upon graduation, he and Sue moved to southern California where he was an associate with a small animal practice in Torrance, California.
In 1970, wanting to establish his own practice, Jim and Sue moved to Wooster and established Cleveland Road Animal Hospital. Starting as a solo practitioner, the practice initially treated both large and small animals. As the it grew, associates were added, and the practice evolved into a small animal hospital. For nearly forty years he was “Doc” to many, treating the community’s four-legged family members until his retirement in 2007.
Jim and his family raised, exhibited, and sold Southdown sheep, under the banner of A Long Way From L.A. Southdowns. The sheep were exhibited for many years at the Wayne County Fair, Ohio State Fair, and the North American International. Sheep were sold across the country, as well as Canada and Central America. Jim was past president of both American Southdown Breeders Association and Ohio Southdown Breeders Association.
Jim enjoyed playing basketball with friends during the noon hour at the College of Wooster. He loved watching sports, gardening with his wife Sue and visiting with family and friends. Jim was also an active supporter of the Friends of Ohio Barns, recording and mapping existing old bank barns throughout the county.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his children Charles C. Howard of Cincinnati, Anne S. (Hakan Bergon) Howard of Alexandria, VA, and Katherine N. (Jean) Arnold of Athens, GA; granddaughter Leila Arnold; siblings Lucy Ann Strait of Boulder, CO, Nancy Sue Reed of Hamilton, IN, and Paul F. (Christine) Howard of Hilton Head, SC.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends will be received, Saturday July 16, from 5-7 PM at McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, OH 44691; Westview Healthy Living Staff Education Fund, 1715 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, OH 44691; Wooster Community Hospital c/o Greatness Need Fund, 1761 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691; or to Cleveland Clinic Foundation Fund, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195.
The family wishes to extend its thanks to the staff at Westview Healthy Living and Dr. John Miller. And to all those who entrusted their animals to his care.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, OH 44691; Westview Healthy Living Staff Education Fund, 1715 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, OH 44691; Wooster Community Hospital c/o Greatness Need Fund, 1761 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691; or to Cleveland Clinic Foundation Fund, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195.
Friends will be received, Saturday July 16, from 5-7 PM at McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster.
There will be no services.
My deepest sympathy for your loss. Although I never met Jim (nor Sue) I have come to know and love Anne. She has been a wonderful colleague and friend. Her love of animals no-doubt came from her Dad! It is wonderful to read that Jim had a life “well-lived”. May his memories comfort your family and bring you peace.
I am so sorry for your loss. I have considered Jim & Sue good friends. Sincerely, Drew Kerr
We were so saddened to hear of Dr. Howard’s passing. We knew him as a friend but also as the best care taker of our animals. He was the Marcus Welty of the animal kingdom. He was a kind and trust worthy person.
Sue, Charlie, Anne, and Katie,
We hurt with you on the passing of such a wonderful man. He impacted all of us. We are praying for you.
Love you all,
Terri Lynn
There’s not enough words to praise Dr Howard, simply ,kind understood caring person, Christmas he saved my poodle from a rat coon. Todays vets don’t have the care of Dr Howard. What a gentle kind man .
I’m so sorry for your loss. Dr Howard was always my favorite Vet for my pets.
Sue and ALL the Family of Jim’s:
My sincerest Condolences and Sympathy to all of you.
Jim was a great friend of my Dad, Dr. Harold (“AP”) Appleman, and Dr Dan Thomas, and SEVERAL MANY more veterinarians in the Killbuck Valley Assoc of Veterinarians.
What I remember so well, after moving to MAINE: I would call him to see if I was doing the correct procedures for my kitty, and dog! I was usually correct, having been the son of a veterinarian. (Doc Appleman). I just wanted to get a chance to talk to him, as well.
I KNOW he will be greatly missed but is up there with OUR GREAT CREATOR talk “Vet Talk” to Dad and others!
GOD BLESS HIM and ALL of YOU!
JIM APPLEMAN
Read Ephesians 3:1-3 & 1-10
So sorry about Dr. HOWARD. He was so kind and cared for my
beloved poodle.Sympathy to his family.
Dear Sue and family,
I’m so sorry for your loss..
He was an amazing man and vet…he will be so missed.
Prayers for you during this difficult time.
Much Love,
Connie Simpson
I’m so sorry for your loss. I met Dr. Howard in 1976; the year I got married and adopted a stray kitten. From that time forward, he cared for all our pets until his retirement.
The care and compassion he showed when the time came to put one of our pets down was second to no one. My family appreciated him so much. I’m sure he was greeted by thousands of loving animals at Heaven’s gates.
The kindest man n most wonderful vet…..
Rest in Peace
I am so sorry for your loss of Dr. Howard. He was the best possible vet I could have had when I got my first two kitties in 2004. I was a nervous and high maintenance new pet parent and he was always compassionate, patient, and gentle with the cats and with me. He had a tremendous demeanor with the pets but also showed great kindness toward me no matter how nervous I was about “my girls.” I missed him when he retired and am so saddened to hear of his passing. He was truly one of the most kind people I have ever known.
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Howard’s passing. He gave me my first summer job in high school, and I learned so much working at Cleveland Road Animal Hospital. I have such fond memories of those years even to this day. My deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss.
So sorry to hear of Dr Howard’s passing many thoughts and prayers go to your family. The Pasquariello family
Love to you all from the mountains!
Sue and family. So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God bless you.
Dr. Howard saw us through many pets, from birth to their crossing the rainbow bridge. I will never ever forget his compassion when we had to make the difficult decisions a pet lover has to make. And he had a great sense of humor. My family, both two and four-legged, send our sympathies to Dr. Howard’s family and friends.
Our deepest sympathies to the family. Dr. Howard was the kindest, most compassionate vet. He took excellent care of our dogs for many years. And during those stressful times of having to say goodbye to one of our pets, we took care of us also.
Will be missed always.
Our deepest sympathies to the family. Dr. Howard was the kindest, most compassionate vet. He took excellent care of our dogs for many years. And during those stressful times of having to say goodbye to one of our pets, he took care of us also.
Will be missed always.
Sad passing of a true gentleman and friend. I always appreciated his mentoring and friendship while serving with him on the Humane Society Board of Directors. We played basketball together, first at the YMCA and later at the College of Wooster. Doc was famous for his indefensible hook shot. If the truth be know, I am sure Kareem learned how to shoot his hook shot from Doc! I will always be eternally grateful for his introducing me to the Noon Hoopsters at the College of Wooster. Go in peace my friend. It was a privilege and an honor to have been friends with you.
So sorry to hear of you passing. Such a wonderful man.
Rest In Peace , Dr. Howard.
You are a beautiful, gentle and kind soul.
I am so sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. He was our vet for 37 years and there was never a more caring professional.
Dear Sue and Family, Please accept our expression of deepest sympathy. Jim was such an entertaining conversationalist with a delightful sense of humor. As all of his “patients” would agree (both human and four-legged) he was an outstanding and compassionate veterinarian. We have no doubt that many others will join us as we mourn his passing. He will be missed by many in your adopted hometown.
Sorry about your loss. I played basketball with Doc in the NBA (Noon Basketball Association) at the College of Wooster. Our lockers were in the same area so there were always conversations. The NBA was a better experience when Doc played. His hook shot was unstoppable.
Our deepest sympathy. He was such a fine vet and human being.
Our deepest sympathy. Jim was a fine vet and a fine human being.
Charlie, I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I have such memories of your dad, and it was my honor to serve under him when he was president of the ASBA. I can still remember visiting your home, having lunch on the patios, looking at the sheep and admiring the barn. I think of your dad in three ways—that of a good shepherd, a good man, and a true gentleman. I will always remember him as such. Please extend Karen and my sympathy to the rest of your family. Gary and Karen
Charlie, I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I have such good memories of your dad, and it was my honor to serve under him when he was president of the ASBA. I can still remember visiting your home, having lunch on the patio, looking at the sheep and admiring the barn. I think of your dad in three ways—that of a good shepherd, a good man, and a true gentleman. I will always remember him as such. Please extend Karen and my sympathy to the rest of your family. Gary and Karen
Charlie, I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I have such good memories of your dad, and it was my honor to serve under him when he was president of the ASBA. I can still remember visiting your home, having lunch on the patio, looking at the sheep and admiring the barn. I think of your dad in three ways—that of a good shepherd, a good man, and a true gentleman. I will always remember him as such. Please extend Karen and my sympathy to the rest of your family. Gary and Karen
Our sympathy to the Howard family. There are not enough adjectives to describe Doc. He was such a caring man whether it was for an animal or a person. He always wanted to know how things were going. We have known him for so many years because of the vet service, fair, and waiting on him at Buehlers that we consider it an honor to have had him in our lives. May memories give your family peace.
Sue and family, I was so very saddened to learn of Doc’s passing and extend my deepest sympathies to all of you. He was such a dear friend and will be sorely missed. I played noon hoops with Doc on my first day at the College of Wooster in June, 1992, and have had the privilege of enjoying his positive outlook on life, his humor and love of story-telling, his adventures in sheep-raising, his prowess on the basketball court, his friendship and camaraderie, and much more, for 30 years. He always took a real interest in my family, and he delighted in sharing the latest news from Sue and the children and grandchildren. So many great memories of Doc that will continue to shape my life for years to come!
Our deepest condolence to Sue and family.We had hoped to come to the service,but a lingering health issue developed again. Sincerest sympathy to all of you folks. We feel blest to have known Jim.
I always enjoyed talking with Doc Howard. He was a great guy and a great neighbor. My condolences to the family.
My condolences to the family. I always enjoyed talking with Doc Howard. He was a great guy and a great neighbor.
Sue and Family, Margaret and I are so saddened by Doc’s passing and your loss. When I moved to Wooster in 1988, Jim Howard was someone who helped make my new home a good one. I too was born on a Midwest farm, and we soon found out we had that connection. He was also the doctor and wise shepherd for our pets, and he also was a fellow noon-time hoops player at the College of Wooster, where I often had to guard him and try to stop his hook-shot or sure-fire 10-foot jump shot. I remember having breakfast with him at the Grange during Fair Week, and how he would often like to talk about James Herriot and All Creatures Great and Small—while to me he seemed like he could have just stepped right from its pages. But he was one of a kind, and my family and I will miss him very much.
I am saddened to hear the news of the loss of such a gentle man, Dr. Howard delivered such compassionate care for our dogs and more importantly how to relate to us in both happy and difficult times. He will forever be the model for what a Family Vet should be in my mind . I will remember him fondly.
I have so many wonderful memories, I wouldn’t know where to start. As attested by all the comments, Dr. Howard was a wonderful and caring vet to many– to our family pets as well– but I will always think of him as my second father. I hope that the Howard family will find comfort in all the memories you have created over the years– and thank you to Jim and Sue for letting me be a part of some.
Jim was my roommate at Iowa State for four years. I recall him bringing a horse skull to our room one day to memorize all the marked bones for his vet class.
Ron Rosengreen, a good friend of booth of us, lit up the skeletal eye sockets with red Christmas bulbs! Quite a striking sight!
Jim was always a good sport and enjoyed all the college hijinks of the day. I have very fond memories of Jim and his lovely wife Susan.
Jim was a man of integrity and wisdom. Certainly someone to be emulated. I’m sure he served as a mentor for many young vets. He was always a gentleman with many stories to tell but through it all always kind and considerate. We missed him when he stopped practicing medicine. He was thoughtful and kind to our pets as well as to us. He will certainly be missed. Jackie and Alan Kiefer