Howard James Phelps

Howard James Phelps, age 90, passed away Tuesday, August 23. Beloved husband of the late Marion (Dianne). Loving dad of Gregory and Julie. Cherished grandfather of Samantha. Brother to the late Martha Frances (late C. Edward) DeTroyer, and Donald (Elaine) Phelps. Uncle to Gary (Gail) DeTroyer, Susan Czajkowski, and Stephanie (Sean) Monte. Great Uncle to Jamie (Steve) Stanley, Kimberly (Erik) Usher, Michele DeTroyer, and Olivia Czajkowski. Howard grew up attending Amos Elementary, Neinas Junior High and graduated from Western High, Detroit in 1950. After High School Howard enrolled in Wayne State University but was soon drafted to serve in the Korean conflict. During his 4 years of service he was put in charge of a squadron of air men and was trained as a Radar Mechanic working mainly at the Atlanta Georgia Air Base for 2 years. Howard enjoyed the South and would have relocated there if his mother did not remain in Michigan having been widowed in the early 1950’s. On April 9, 1960 Howard married Marion Dianne Ford at Military Avenue United Presbyterian Church of Detroit. Howard got to know Dianne when he became the choir director at Military Avenue church for eight years in which she sang in. Although they did not begin dating until one year before they were married. Having two children and one grandchild family was very important to Howard and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. After serving in the U.S. Air Force in December 1954 and returning to Michigan Howard resumed attending Military Church where he became the youngest elder to serve on the church board. In the meantime he went to work at Pittsburgh Paints & Glass Company as a salesman and resumed studies at Lawrence Tech in Southfield majoring in Engineering. After seeing that Dianne enjoyed teaching he decided to change his career to just that where he switched over to Oakland University, Rochester, MI and graduated with Bachelors of Science in History in the spring of 1966. Howard enjoyed his new career and taught in Livonia, MI ending up at Frost Junior High School until he retired in 1994, he also substitute taught until the early 2000s. Howard, along with Dianne, for over 50 years served in the Detroit Sunday School Association which migrated into the International Christian Education Association until they stepped down in 2018. Editing the newspaper, serving in the organization where needed, sitting on the Board holding office positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary over the years. He enjoyed helping churches increase in ministry resources and teaching by putting on annual Conference of Education and Vacation Bible School and Leadership Training. He made it a full time job for his second career. Also, serving as an Elder at Ward Evangelical Church in Livonia/Northville, MI and sang in the choir along with solos, duets, in quartets, and ensembles since they joined in 1968. Now Howard is filled with joy at this time in the presence of his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Lord we will continue to miss him here on earth and look forward to the hope in Glory of being together again. A Memorial service for Howard, and his wife Dianne, who passed away on November 13, 2021, will be held in the Hess Chapel of Ward Church on Friday, September 23, 2022. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and continue until the time of the service at 11:00 am. Please share a memory of Howard on his tribute wall.