Herbert Howard “Howie” Sr.

Howard "Howie" Herbert Sr., a longtime resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Thursday August 18, 2016.

Howie was born in Chicago IL on January 9, 1930. He moved to Denver, CO when he was a baby. He spent his childhood in Denver. When he was eight years old and attending elementary school, he met the love of his life Barbara "Bobbie" Dougherty, and married her ten years later on June 20, 1948 when they were eighteen years old.

Howie and Bobbie had two children born in Denver and two born in Albuquerque. By the time they were twenty-two years old they had four children.

Howie moved his family to Albuquerque in 1950 at the age of twenty. After building a nationally recognized reputation in sales and management with Maytag, he began his career as an entrepreneur. He opened the first discount department store in the Southwest, calling it Albuquerque Discount Club. It was a membership store, and boasted some 100,000 members. After two successful years, he sold his business and moved on to diversified investments and land development. Howie was also the founder of Western Bank.

Although Howie experienced business success, he always believed that you should give back to the community. Over the years he has served on boards, including Governors Drug Council, Incarcerated Youth Business Outreach, and the Board of Governors for Special Olympics, and Goodwill Industries. Howie was also on the Board of Trustees of the 100 Club, an organization that assists the families of slain Police and Firemen killed in the line of duty. He was recently honored with a lifetime membership to the organization for his dedication. He served as State Chairman of the Easter Seals, and New Mexico Mental Health, founder of the Christmas Basket program. Howie was a Director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and co-founder of the Halfway House Rehab for Alcoholics. Howie was awarded Special recognition from Congresswoman Heather Wilson in the US House of Representatives in Washington for his contributions.

In 1951, Howie joined the Blue Lodge, becoming a Shriner in 1956. As a loyal Shriner, one of Howie’s passions was Shriner’s Hospital. In 2013, he became a member of the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake City location. Serving as a member of the Board of Governors, Howie was able to create the Herbert Family Kids Corner at Salt Lake City Hospital, creating a fun and innovative area in the hospital where children can play and use their imagination. The Kids Korner was dedicated in 2013, and the Herbert family was in attendance for the room that is named in his honor.

Howie was preceded in death by his brother Tom Herbert and his daughter Debbie Herbert Boone. He is survived by his loving wife Bobbie; his children Howie Jr. and wife Jean; daughter Tamara Herbert Ward and her husband Bill Ward; Jeffry Herbert and his wife Malissa. Howie and Bobbie are grandparents to eight grandchildren, Howie Herbert III and his wife Christy, Molly Martinez and husband Bennie Martinez, Jacob Herbert and Sage Herbert and Ryan Strilich, Cheyenne Shaw, Josh Hankins, Jasey Boone Loman and Joe and Rochelle Boone.

Howie’s greatest joys were his 13 great grandchildren, Haley Caitlyn and Ashly Herbert, Diego and Dyson Martinez, Haley and Kyra Boone, Elizabeth Jack and Sarah Loman, and Teal Rose and Lily Hankins. In addition, he is survived by his loyal four footed friend, Bailey.

Howie always enjoyed nature, especially when the full moon splashed across the New Mexico sky. He would excitedly call all his loved ones, say "MOON" and hang up. When you are looking into the night sky, and see that big full moon, please think of Howie, and say "Moon".

Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, September 06, 2016, 10:00 a.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming, with a Reception following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org and to Guide Dogs for the Blind www.guidedogs.com. Please visit our online guestbook for Howie at www.FrenchFunerals.com.

FRENCH – Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE

(505) 823-9400