Harrison H. Howeth Jr., historian, genealogist
Harrison Hopkins Howeth passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. Harry was born May 6, 1930, in Dorchester County, Md.
He was loved and respected by everyone who knew him, and will be remembered as a giving and interesting person. For much of his young and ornery years, he was raised in Hurlock, Md., by his Aunt Effie. He attended Rehoboth Elementary and a year of junior high where he played football; then he attended Fork Union Academy where he graduated in 1949.
Harrison was a Korean War veteran, and a member of Broadkiln VFW Post 6984 and American Legion Post 17 in Lewes. He was a respected researcher of Sussex County and Dorchester County history.
He was recently honored by the Sons of the American Revolution for being a closest living relative of a Revolutionary War soldier. He was also honored as a founding member of the Sussex County Genealogy Society.
After service in the Army, he followed his father’s footsteps in the business of selling farm machinery with PIXALL, a Wisconsin company, where he mentored other young sales associates while on the road. He extensively traveled the Eastern Seaboard and went to all but two or three states.
In Milton in the 1970s, he began vegetable farming with the help of his wife and children (Old Orchard Farms on family land) to provide local produce to stands along Coastal Highway, and soon expanded to include growing flowers in greenhouses for wholesale.
During his early retirement years, you could find him surf fishing at Cape Henlopen State Park. He participated in the early days of Punkin’ Chunkin’. He then turned his energy and interest to historical ventures.
He was involved in researching and cataloging numerous items for Rehoboth, Lewes and Milton historical societies, where he was a respected and treasured asset.
In his 70s he attended classes to learn how to use a computer. He quickly became savvy, and he not only mastered genealogy websites but started several blogs.
His dry sense of humor and wit were always present, and are demonstrated in his blog called INNNI – Interesting News, Not Neccesarily Important. He has a Delmar History blog at blogspot.com and most recently began a blog on the Cape Gazette website about Cape Henlopen History and Beyond.
He would often find evidence of current trends in old newspaper clippings. He was known to correct the facts in local papers when he saw an error, of course backing it up with research. He has an extensive catalog of entries at newspaperabstracts.com.
Not one to be idle, he learned how to navigate social media and was active on several pages about local history, adding commentary and being equally accepting of criticism on his posts.
Twice a day for many years, he could be found with his devoted roundtable buddies at Arby's having coffee and solving world problems.
Reinforcing his aim of staying in motion in his retirement, until May of this year, he worked as a courier for Hudson Management, assisting his good friend Joe whom he met in first grade, where he shared pencil and paper, and made a lifelong friend.
He was predeceased by his son Harrison Wayne Howeth; sister Winfred Raphel; and his parents Harrison Hopkins Howeth Sr. and Edith Corkran Howeth.
Harrison is survived by his dear, devoted wife of nearly 58 years, G. Yvonne Melott Howeth; and daughter Deny Howeth (Jaffrey Hom), and a daughter Donna Wood (Bernie) of Indialantic, Fla.; as well as three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Isabel McGinness, age 99, of Milton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Harry’s life with friends and family will be announced in the future. If you would like to make a donation in his name, please help a veteran.
Arrangements in the care of Short Funeral Services, Milton.
