Gerald Dean Howard

LORAIN - Gerald Dean “Big Jerry” Howard, age 66, passed away on Dec. 1 7 , 2014, in Mercy Regional Medical Center, after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Cleveland, but was a lifelong resident of Lorain.

He was employed by U.S. Steel Corp. and retired following 28 years of service. Jerry was a very family oriented man who loved spending time with wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing, being on the computer, and reading.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 43 years, Della Howard; five children, Mattie M. (Ralph) Atkinson of Canton, Michelle (Larry) Robinson, Wilbur Blake, Gerald (Yolanda) Howard Jr., and Mary Howard, all of Lorain; his father, Herman Wren of Lorain; brothers, Herman Wren, Jr., Raymond Wren, Kevin Wren and Timothy Wren, all of Lorain; sisters, Deborah Wren, Linda Wren, Delores Wren and Joyce Velasquez, all of Lorain, Cathy Wren of Elyria, and Patricia Wood of Akron; 36 grandchildren; 32 greatgrandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by a daughter, Gloria Howard; his mother, Mary Wren; three grandchildren; and a nephew.

Visitation will be held Monday, Dec. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown-Robinson Funeral Home, 2652 Broadway Ave., Lorain. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, 3900 Clifton Ave., Lorain. Rev. Earnest Robinson of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain.

Arrangements entrusted to Brown-Robinson Funeral Home, 2652 Broadway Ave., Lorain, OH 44052. Online condolences can be made at www.brownrobinson.com

Brown-Robinson Funeral Home 440-244-1831