Obituary for Howard Allan Greenlaw
Howard Allan Greenlaw, 74, of Strafford, NH, passed away in his home with his wife of nearly 50 years by his side on May 11, 2022, from Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer.
He grew up in Stonington, ME, the oldest of four siblings. His father Harold was a lobsterman and his mother loved to craft and ran a shop. After high school he attended the University of Maine in Orono where he earned his engineering degree and also met his wife. He was drafted to Vietnam and served as a mechanic in the army.
Howard spent his career as a facilities engineer. He managed people and buildings and was respected for his pragmatic approach. He was a problem solver and would make sure his plants kept running, no matter what, many nights and weekends were spent fixing emergencies.
Howard loved cars and spent much of his free time building and restoring them. He was a Ford guy. From his ’57 Ford to his ’48 Ford pickup to his custom ’79 Mustang dragster (which he raced at the drag strip on Mustang nights), he always had a project. He would have fun dragging his kids to various car shows and junk sales, but it was probably more fun for him to go on his own or with his car buddies. He was a good father, participating in activities with the kids. He helped run the local Boy Scouts; his engineering mindset always was an advantage for the boys during the pinewood derby.
In retirement, he learned to sail and hauled his sailboat to lakes around New Hampshire. His first mate Cathy was happy to join him as long as it wasn’t so windy that her wine and cheese would be knocked over.
Howard didn’t love to travel, but he loved his family and traveling became the way to spend time with his family and through that he was able to explore more of the world than he otherwise would. He was able to appreciate new places from California to England to West Virginia. He would get out and explore and find plaques to thoroughly read…every single word. No matter where he was, at home or abroad, he always loved finding a comfortable chair and reading his newspaper.
The things he did were important to him, but it was who he was that will most be missed. He was quiet and thoughtful. He had wisdom and wit. He would joke around and make you laugh, with barely a wink. He would talk your ear off about the mundane technical details of a transmission differential, as if you understood, but it was always compelling, mostly because it was coming from him.
He was predeceased by his parents Mary and Harold and his sister Norene. He left behind his wife, Catherine (Meserve) Greenlaw; his sons Jason (Sophie), David (Colleen), and Tim (Sarah) ; and his grandchildren Gavin, Lauren, Nasir and Robin; and his brothers, Gary and Al. Family will gather July 30 for a private graveside service at Arundel Cemetery to celebrate his memory. In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to a Parkinson’s or cancer research organization.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Howard’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St. Kennebunk, ME.
He grew up in Stonington, ME, the oldest of four siblings. His father Harold was a lobsterman and his mother loved to craft and ran a shop. After high school he attended the University of Maine in Orono where he earned his engineering degree and also met his wife. He was drafted to Vietnam and served as a mechanic in the army.
Howard spent his career as a facilities engineer. He managed people and buildings and was respected for his pragmatic approach. He was a problem solver and would make sure his plants kept running, no matter what, many nights and weekends were spent fixing emergencies.
Howard loved cars and spent much of his free time building and restoring them. He was a Ford guy. From his ’57 Ford to his ’48 Ford pickup to his custom ’79 Mustang dragster (which he raced at the drag strip on Mustang nights), he always had a project. He would have fun dragging his kids to various car shows and junk sales, but it was probably more fun for him to go on his own or with his car buddies. He was a good father, participating in activities with the kids. He helped run the local Boy Scouts; his engineering mindset always was an advantage for the boys during the pinewood derby.
In retirement, he learned to sail and hauled his sailboat to lakes around New Hampshire. His first mate Cathy was happy to join him as long as it wasn’t so windy that her wine and cheese would be knocked over.
Howard didn’t love to travel, but he loved his family and traveling became the way to spend time with his family and through that he was able to explore more of the world than he otherwise would. He was able to appreciate new places from California to England to West Virginia. He would get out and explore and find plaques to thoroughly read…every single word. No matter where he was, at home or abroad, he always loved finding a comfortable chair and reading his newspaper.
The things he did were important to him, but it was who he was that will most be missed. He was quiet and thoughtful. He had wisdom and wit. He would joke around and make you laugh, with barely a wink. He would talk your ear off about the mundane technical details of a transmission differential, as if you understood, but it was always compelling, mostly because it was coming from him.
He was predeceased by his parents Mary and Harold and his sister Norene. He left behind his wife, Catherine (Meserve) Greenlaw; his sons Jason (Sophie), David (Colleen), and Tim (Sarah) ; and his grandchildren Gavin, Lauren, Nasir and Robin; and his brothers, Gary and Al. Family will gather July 30 for a private graveside service at Arundel Cemetery to celebrate his memory. In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to a Parkinson’s or cancer research organization.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Howard’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St. Kennebunk, ME.