Richard Robert Howley or “Red” as he was known to his friends passed away September 15, 2022. He was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, the 8th of 10 children, to Thomas and Catherine Howley on July 10, 1936. He served in the army at the end of the Korean War. He and his wife Lynn were married and moved to Orlando, Florida in 1966. He worked for Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin). In 1973, Red and Lynn moved to Leesburg and ran a successful small family business, the Spillway Tavern and Park, for 37 years.
Red was very proud of his Irish genealogy (99%!). He was a huge Notre Dame football fan…Go fighting Irish! He was in his element on Saint Patrick’s Day and spent many a March 17th at the Spillway Tavern dressed as a leprechaun, drinking green beer, and reveling in Irish tunes. He taught his children the value of hard work but he also loved to have a good time.
His beloved Lynn predeceased him in 2010, marking the beginning of his gradual decline. His Catholic faith was his guiding force and gave him strength and hope. He suffered the effects of Parkinson’s and dementia for the past several years. We take comfort in knowing these chains have been broken and we can picture him dancing a jig in paradise.
Richard is survived by his four children, Rebecca Brandt of Leesburg, Mary Souliere (Jeff) of Apopka, Joseph Howley (Carol) of Sanford, and Kate Howley (Ross) of Matthews, NC; grandchildren Shanon, William, Emma, Chloe, Madigan, Rowan, Cole, and Aislin; many nieces and nephews, and many grand nieces and grand nephews.
Funeral Mass will be held at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Apopka, FL (in the chapel, not the main church) on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends at the Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis, FL on Friday, September 23, 2022 from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM. A private interment will be held at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell where he will be forever reunited with his wife, Lynn Adair Howley.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude (www.stjude.org) or to a charity for the benefit of Animals.
