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Howard Francis Whitlock, 94, of Powell, Wyoming passed away peacefully July 4, 2023 in the Powell Valley Healthcare hospital due to a very short illness.
Howard, Dad, Uncle Howie and Papa, as he was also known as, was born to Charles Howard Whitlock and Margaret Ward Whitlock in Denver, Colorado on Oct. 9, 1928. He and his family, including nine siblings Charles William (Bill), Jerry, Robert, Joyce, Jack, Darlene, Lenny and Rich, moved often following the oil field work as Howard and the kids grew up.
Howard married Shirley Emmett in 1949 in Lusk, Wyoming and lived in various places, landing in Powell for a short time in the 1960s. They had three boys, Mickey, Terry and Kelly.
Howard worked in the oil fields and for Powell Ready Mix for a time until Terry became too ill with asthma that they moved to Indio, California to get him to the desert to breathe easier. Howard worked for Hercules mines in that area for some time, then took a transfer to Virginia, Minnesota, for a stint then back to Tucson, Arizona where he ended his career with Hercules to pursue business on his own. He and Shirley were divorced in Tucson.
In 1981, Howard moved to Farmington, New Mexico to pursue his oil reclaiming business, General Crude Processing, and there met the love of his life, Barbara Frances Fugate (aka Barbara Baby). They were married in March 1983. The oil business was quite slow in the winter so they added another company called Tri-City Propane which took off like a rocket for them. They sold that business in 1992 to then pursue the retired life. They built another home in Goodyear, Arizona along with having a cabin in Alaska and a shiny motorhome to travel to every adventure or golf course they could.
After a few years Howard got restless and he and Barb bought a golf course in Byram, Mississippi in 1995, Brookwood Country Club. Howard loved golfing and was a pretty good stick at that. They sold the golf course in 2009 and returned to the Phoenix, Arizona area to be near a niece, Pam Jay and her family. Then in 2012 they moved back to Powell, Wyoming, Howard’s home town to stay put. Barbara even calls it home too!
There they built a home in the country, then moved to town to reduce the size of the lawn, and then one more time to a retirement area where the snow is removed and the lawn is mowed for you.
In his time in Powell, Howard pursued his love of golf by golfing almost every day in the summer months and even in the shoulder months that were above freezing. One of his fondest memories was a golf trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to his nephew’s home to spend a few days with his nephews Craig, Andrew, Brett, Chase and Drew on the “boy’s golf trip.” His favorite golf partner was his great nephew Andrew Whitlock, but he had many favorites along with him! Howard was actually out on the course three weeks before his passing with his nephews Craig and Andrew. He could only putt, but loved hanging out with the boys! His other pastime was driving cars and running errands for his nephew, Brett, at Whitlock Motors in Cody. He would wrangle up all the drivers and head to wherever the cars needed brought home from. He did that all the way up to his 92nd year young.
Howard did not know a stranger — he always welcomed everyone into his world. The way you knew you were really in was to be invited to “Happy Hour” 5 p.m. That happened every day, a gin and tonic with a twist of lime, just one, maybe two….
Howard loved all his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids!
Howard will be missed by all who knew him. I don’t think Howard had a bad day, with a smile bigger than the Wyoming sky, you just couldn’t help but smile with him no matter what your mood may be!
Howard is survived by his beautiful wife, Barbara, and his three stepdaughters and their families; his sister Joyce (Ben) Keller of Powell, and his brother Jack Whitlock of Casper, and several nieces and nephews.
We will have Howard’s graveside services at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell, Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. Following the graveside, there will be a no host hors d’oeuvres and drinks at WYOld West Brewing Company at 221 N. Bent St., Powell where we can visit with Barb and family and reminisce of the “good ‘ol days!” There will also be a golf tournament in his honor that weekend. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences can be shared with Howard’s family at BallardFH.com.
