Niceville, Florida - Colonel (Ret.) Howard John Oakes took flight into the wild blue yonder on July 1, 2025, surrounded by the love of family, good stories, and tremendous caregivers.

Born April 29, 1941, in the small town of Cochranton, Pennsylvania, Howard was the middle of three boys in a bustling household where farm animals outnumbered humans and laughter echoed through every floorboard. As a child, he raised calves, sold furs, ran elaborate penny scams with his lifelong best friend Dick, and spent countless hours playing in the woods and keeping the local constabulary on their toes for pranks around town.

After graduating from Grove City College (where he was leader of the ROTC), Howard joined the Air Force, starting what would become a 30-year journey of leadership, service, and globe-trotting with his first wife Barbara Jean, whom he met via a bold cold-call from the freshman facebook. They married two months after his graduation - launching nearly 50 years together and a new family that would eventually include three sons: Howard Jr., Rob, and John.

Howard's military career spanned the globe, with posts in Vietnam during the war, Germany, England, Belgium, and all over the United States. From training college cadets to be Air Force navigators to coordinating NATO airspace during the Cold War to teaching accounting courses at base night schools to commanding Eglin Air Force Base in the 1980s (a dream job that perfectly matched his people leadership and military command skills), Howard was the one you called when you needed a cool head, good judgment, and a smart plan, all delivered with military precision. His favorite way to defuse conflict? Honesty, humor, and if all else failed, scar tissue.

After retiring from the military in 1992 while at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, Howard transitioned into a number of corporate consulting gigs, and one ill-advised venture involving the commercialization of very ugly but effective snow boots. He continued to travel the world with Barbara and his kids, while also finding time to volunteer for the less fortunate, including delivering food for Wheels on Meals and holding leadership roles in (and donating a small fortune to) the Children in Crisis organization. After retiring to Niceville, Howard and Barbara built a dream home filled with grandkids, dogs, boats, and an unspoken rule that no one left hungry (or dry).

Following Barbara's passing in 2012, Howard, heartbroken but never idle, reconnected with the world. He was fortunate to discover a great new love - and life partner - in Mary Jo McCabe, whom he married in 2016 at a joyful backyard wedding officiated by his son and attended by their blended families and friends. Herself a military widow, Mary Jo reignited in Howard a zest for life, love, and laughter. Together they cruised around the world, hosted parties, and dominated bridge tournaments near and far, all while navigating the challenges of Howard's advancing Parkinsons, the COVID era, and multiple moves. More recently they expanded their family with their trusty pup Spencer. Howard's children and grandchildren wish to lovingly and publicly thank Mary Jo for her exceptional caretaking through his many health challenges, and for bringing light back into his life.

While achieving all of the professional and leadership accomplishments of a Colonel, Howard preferred to focus on things that didn't make it into official records, such as:

- Building an unauthorized dishwasher in the Ramstein Germany barracks housing (and flooding a basement in the process - a connection heretofore unknown to the military).

- Quietly earning his own private pilot's license while working full time and juggling kids, just because the Air Force wouldn't give him one as a Navigator (as he might have asked, who did they expect to fly that thing if the pilot punched out?!)

- Installing a fake but visible "camera" in a house guest bathroom while hosting a large base party just to mess with guests (and to see who was paying attention).

- Convincing the State of Missouri to grant honorary citizenship to a skeptical German general who always insisted, "Show me why," anytime Howard proposed an idea.

- Always putting his country and family above all else, and always being present for his children and grandchildren no matter the circumstance.

Howard was a devoted husband, a fearless leader, a witty and true humorist, and a fiercely proud and protective father and grandfather. He gave his children freedom, discipline, humor, and direction - along with some thrilling near-death ski trips through the Alps. He believed in setting goals, nurturing meaningful relationships, and surrounding himself with people who brought energy, not drained it. His advice to his grandkids? "Keep moving forward. Cultivate joy. And avoid jackasses." He lived with intention. He loved with an open heart. He told the funniest stories. And now he's off to his next assignment - hopefully one with a stocked bar, a receptive audience, and a low-flying F-4 on standby.

Howard is survived by his loving wife Mary Jo; sons Howard Jr. (and Claudia), Rob (and Tobi), and John (and Suzy); grandchildren Jim, Josh, Jack, Benjamin and Levi; stepson Bhrett McCabe (and Missy) and their daughters Logan and Caroline; and a proud legacy of wisdom, integrity, service, and laughter.

We will miss him dearly, but boy... what a ride.

A celebration of Howard's life will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 2 pm at the Sunset Beach subdivision Club House, 77 Sunset Strip, Niceville, FL 32578. At Howard's request this will be celebratory in nature and attire is very beach casual. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to honor Howard's memory please consider a contribution to the Air Force Aid Society, afas.org., another organization that was near and dear to Howard's heart.