Howard was born April 23, 1918, in West Warwick, Rhode Island the second son of Alfred Louis and Gertrude Charlotte (Grochowski) Stebbins. Shortly after Howard was born the family relocated to Jewett City, CT., where his father was employed as Master Mechanic and later as Superintendent of the Ashland Cotton Company. The family lived in Jewett City until late in 1929. Howard completed the 6th grade in the Griswold Riverside Grammar School. The family then re-located to Pawtucket, RI. The family made several more moves during the early 1930’s and finally settled in Norwich, CT in 1933. Howard attended Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT and graduated in 1936. Upon graduation, Howard worked for the J.B. Martin Company on Franklin St. In 1938 he went to work for the Boston Post newspaper, the job only lasted one year. In 1939 Howard applied for a job as a draftsman at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT. He worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft until 1977 and retired from the facility in North Haven, CT as a Senior Design Analyst / Programmer.

Howard entered military service during World War II with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 1943. His military service was as an electrician in the 355th General Service Engineer Regiment, 9th Army. His service was in the European Theater of Operations and he quickly rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His unit arrived at Omaha Beach about 30 days after the D-day invasion on July 4, 1944. His unit did considerable construction work to complete the “Red Ball Express” highway which aided the rapid advance of General Patton’s Third Army. His unit also built several vehicle and railroad bridges during the later part of the war in Europe. His unit stayed in Germany until December 1945 and Howard was discharged at Fort Devens, MA on December 15, 1945.

Howard was a Master Mason and member of Anchor Lodge 112 (A.F. &A.M.) of East Hampton, CT and received a 50-year membership pin in 2001.

Howard married the former Marguerite Dilworth the daughter of Albert and Catherine Dilworth on May 15, 1942 at the Greeneville Congregational Church in Norwich, CT. Howard and Marguerite were members of the Greeneville Congregational Church. There was one child born of this union, Gary Robert Stebbins on December 6, 1951. Gary and his wife Maria (nee Colon) are residents of Fort Wayne, IN. Howard and Marguerite have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service with full military honors on Saturday morning at 10:00 in the Maplewood Cemetery, Norwich.The visiting hours will be Friday from 5 – 7 PM in the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A Masonic Service will be held at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Ste 300, Rockville, MD 20852.