John Howat

Johnny Howat, you are the man! Harry the K’s signature call on December 16, 2020 invited John Howat, 73, a long-time Eddystoner and most recently a resident of Brookhaven, to join that diamond in the sky alongside all of his childhood heroes and his beloved parents, brother, and four legged buddy, Pete Rose.  Although nothing can replace the indelible mark he left on those who loved and knew him best or fill the void his absence will create, he is in a place where viruses don’t prevent stadiums from filling to capacity or mute the roar of the crowd or the crack of the bats. He is now in a body that doesn’t hold him back from rounding the bases at lightning speed, his hair whipping in the wind behind him.  Most importantly, he is no longer suffering and can take care of those he left behind, knowing that one day he will once again laugh with them, watch his favorite shows, and enjoy the company of those he loved most.

John was a 1965 graduate of Eddystone High School and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany.  After returning from the military, he worked for 29 years at Medford’s Meats and eventually retired from Foamex, Inc. Predeceased by his parents, John and Helen (nee Getz) and his brother, Alex. John is survived by his wife of 52 years, Francie (nee Buttery), his son Chris (Lisa), and his daughter Katy McGinley (John). John also leaves behind his greatest loves, his grandchildren, Christopher, Haley, and Maren from whom he derived some of his fondest memories and biggest sense of pride.

John was a member of Eddystone Legion Post 844 who volunteered as a baseball and basketball coach for the children of Eddystone.  He loved playing softball and played for Topper’s for many years.  He was an avid sports fan who enjoyed listening to the Phillies on the radio and watching the Eagles and college football.  He also loved Jeopardy, Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory, and Seinfeld.  One of his favorite pastimes since he retired was doing his “Town Watch” through his beloved Eddystone, often buying lottery tickets and stopping at Ann’s and Vicki’s for coffee and sports talk with his good friends Wayne and Bruce.  Those who knew him know that he never forgot his roots.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation Tuesday, December 29, 2020 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM at The Knoetgen-Donohue Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Avenue, Morton, Pa 19070 (610) 544-0600, followed by his Funeral Service at 5:30 PM. Relatives and friends that plan to attend both, the family request you arrive for the visitation at 5:00 PM due to limited occupancy restrictions. If for some reason, there are more than the Funeral Home can accommodate, the service will be livestreamed on The Donohue Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thedonohuefuneralhome/videos/

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to Providence Animal Center, 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA 19063 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.