THORNDIKE D. HOWE III (DIKE)
1936-2016
“Dike” was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 7, 1936 to Thorndike D. Howe, Jr and Amy Crosby Howe. He passed away on July 4, 2016 at 80 years old after a hard fought battle with bladder cancer. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his loving wife and soul mate of 36 years, Sue Baker Howe; his son T. D. Howe IV and wife Sylvia; his daughter Phyllis H. Chaney and husband Mark and four special grandchildren, Chris Chaney, Rebecca Chaney, Cory Chaney and T. D. Howe V and two step grandchildren, Brian Pender and Jessie Pender. He is survived by his siblings: Olivia Barstow, Virginia Kincaid and George Howe and his wife Katherine. He is also survived by his in-laws: Bill and Susan Baker and Jean and Dave Martin. He had many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.
Dike moved to Houston in 1938; attended Exeter Academy and Kinkaid Preparatory, University of Texas and University of Houston. He was owner and president of T.D. Howe and Assoc Insurance Agency from 1966 until his retirement in 2000. After which he became a volunteer consultant with the Executive Service Corps of Houston and loved working for several years with the Children’s Museum of Houston as a consultant on risk management. He was a past director of Heights State Bank and Pine Forest Country Club. Dike enjoyed traveling to Palm Springs, CA, Palm Beach, FL, Arizona and North Carolina. Sue and Dike loved cruising, playing bridge and golf and having dinner with wonderful friends. In later life he even enjoyed cooking and became very good at preparing meals. He was especially interested in the activities and wellbeing of his grandchildren.
Dike Howe was raised by the quintessential New England parents who taught their four children to respect and appreciate their heritage while at the same time, inspiring them to seek excellence on their own in everything that they did. Dike took to that upbringing, accepting it for himself and expecting it from others. His strong personal and ethical values have served as a moral compass for himself, his family, and in selecting his friends and associates.
If you could use only one word to describe Dike, it would be “enthusiastic”. Dike was always ready to participate and if he said he was in, he was ALL IN! It didn’t matter if it involved his fraternity, his career, his golf, his church, or his family. Dike was fully committed and if you were Dike Howe’s friend, you really had a friend. In so many ways, Dike always was bigger than life. Those of us who have had the privilege of sharing his friendship are all the better for it. He always will be a part of us.
Dike was a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church and the Pathfinder’s class. He was an usher for over 30 years at the 8:25 service. He made the decision for no more treatment for the cancer and passed away knowing God’s grace and love. He was not afraid and now he is singing with the angels in God’s choir.
Memorial Services will be held on July 11, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Chapelwood United Methodist Church at 11140 Greenbay, Houston, Texas 77024. Donations may be made in memory of Dike to the Chapelwood Foundation T. D. and Sue Howe Scholarship, 11140 Greenbay Drive, Houston, Texas, 77024; Kinkaid School, Sue and T. D. Howe III Endowed Scholarship Fund; 201 Kinkaid School Drive, Houston, Texas 77024; St. James Episcopal School, Amy C. Howe Scholarship Fund, 1803 Highland Hollow Drive, Conroe, Texas 77304; or to a charity of your choice.