Major James Paul Howard, USAF (retired) of Cuchara, Colorado, died peacefully at home Monday, May 07, 2018. James was born on October 10, 1938 to Donald Paul Howard and Crystal B. (Doerge) Howard in Omaha, Nebraska.
Linda Hesse Howard of Cuchara, Colorado died peacefully at home on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Linda was born on April 05, 1939 to Frank A. Hesse and Gertrude J. (Riepe) Hesse in Mason City, Iowa.
Both James and Linda graduated from Mason City High School and were united in marriage on December 19, 1959 at Wesley Methodist Church in Mason City, Iowa.
James became a Helicopter Pilot, a Training Instructor, and a Fighter Pilot with a 20 year career with the Air Force from July 10, 1963 to July 31, 1983. James is a veteran of the Vietnam War, in which he completed 3 tours of duty. James was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Ten Oak Leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with Four Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campagin Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and Three Oak Leaf Clusters.
During James military career, both James and Linda Joined the National Ski Patrol Association and Volunteered at Sierra Blanca Ski Area in Ruidoso, New Mexico. This Volunteerism led Linda to be hired by the ski area as a manager of the First Aid Clinic.
After his military career, James then worked for Lockheed Martin as the Flight Test engineer on the F-16 project in California and Linda joined the US Forest Service working for the Angeles National Forest (1984-1994).
Both James and Linda moved to Cuchara, Colorado in 1995 with James working at the Cuchara Mountain Resort as a Ski Patrol Director and Linda continuing to work for the US Forest Service for the state of Colorado. James also served on the Water Board for the local communities in 2008.
James and Linda are survived by their two daughters, Tracy and Kristy, tow granddaughters, Ashley and Crystal, and two great grandsons, Ryan and Lawson. Linda is also survived by her sister, Alice M. Broers, and James is also survived by his brother, Mark W. Howard, CW-4 Army (retired).
In lieu of a memorial service, the family suggests memorial contributions to be made either to the Alzheimer's Foundation for James (www.alzfdn.org) or to the American Diabetes Association for Linda (www.diabetes.org).

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