Memorial Service for Donald Robert Howe
Donald Robert Howe, age 86, of Waco, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 18, 2026, surrounded by his family, marking the end of an active, productive and joyful life.
Services will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, beginning with a family graveside service at 12:00 noon at Oakwood Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 at First Presbyterian Church with The Rev. Dr. Leslie King officiating.
Don was born September 9, 1940, in Rawlins, Wyoming to Dorothy Seehorn Howe and Robert Elmer Howe. He spent his early life in Sinclair, Wyoming, California, Pennsylvania, and eventually Darien, Connecticut. He graduated third in grade point average from Darien High school, where he served as president of his class, earning a scholarship to Yale University. In high school, Don was an Eagle Scout and lettered in football, track, and cross-country. He graduated from Yale as an economics major and geology minor. He continued his education at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, graduating in 1964. At Yale, Don’s activities included both the ski team and the rugby team; he was on intramural teams while in graduate school at Harvard as well. Summer jobs included stints in Detroit with Ford Motor Company, Sinclair, Wyoming, working in the comptroller’s office, New York City in the petroleum department of First National City Bank, and Sinclair Oil in Alaska and Montana as a student geologist in 1959 and 1960. Interestingly, two of his Alaskan hobbies were panning for gold and collecting fossils, one of which was a piece of a mammoth tusk.
Don’s Harvard MBA led him to senior management positions in New York and Dallas, particularly Galey and Lord, a division of Burlington Industries, which had an office in Dallas. In the summer of 1965, while Don was responsible for the Dallas office, he was invited to an event by Dallas native, Lyda Hill, who wanted to introduce him to her dear friend, Martha Roane Lacy. They met, had a wonderful time, and then Don’s stint in Dallas ended and he went back to New York. In an unbelievable series of circumstances, Martha reached out to Don, he responded, and they eventually met again in Waco. As the saying goes, “the rest is history.” Martha and Don married in 1966 soon after Martha graduated from Baylor, and they moved to New York City. Within a year, an opportunity in Dallas drew them back to Martha’s home state, and they settled there for the next ten years. In Dallas, Don graduated from Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and was a Leadership Dallas delegate. This launched a banking career that brought him to First National Bank, where he was promptly promoted to Vice President.
Dallas became home to Martha and Don as they expanded their family to include Donald Robert Howe, Jr., “Donny.” Martha Roane Lacy Howe “Lacy” followed two years later, and the Martha and Don Howe family was on its way. In 1977, when a banking opportunity became available in Waco, they moved to Martha’s hometown, where Don became president of Westview National Bank. Don quickly became a dedicated and enthusiastic Wacoan, where he loved to tell stories about his being “a Yankee moving to Texas.”
After more than two decades in banking, Don embarked on his most beloved business venture when he purchased DuraCoatings, where he was able to use his education and experience in management and marketing.
Martha and Don were active in all aspects of the Waco community. Don served on the boards of many organizations, including Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, Waco Soccer Association, Baylor University Development Council, Downtown Waco, St. Alban’s School, Reicher Catholic High School Parents Association, March of Dimes, Vanguard School, Keep Waco Beautiful, and as both a deacon and an elder at First Presbyterian Church. He also served as president of the Northwest Waco Rotary Club. Don coached many seasons of soccer for both Donny’s and Lacy’s soccer teams. He famously explained, in the early years, “After oranges, we go toward the other goal…”
Don was known and loved by his family and friends for many things, not the least of which was his commitment to fitness (jogging, then walking on a regular basis), his love of great food (he was known to be politely audible about food he enjoyed), and his intelligent, articulate conversation about a wide range of topics, including far-sightedness and vision toward the future. Don was a stellar writer of wedding and rehearsal dinner toasts, often providing a highlight of the evening with his rhymes and wit. His sense of humor contributed to the wide smile and infectious laughter that he shared with family and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Martha of 60 years; his parents; and his sister, Mary Howe.
He is survived by his son, Donald Robert Howe, Jr. and daughter, Lacy Howe Rieke and husband, Brian Marc Rieke, grandchildren, Donald Robert Howe III, Shepherd Robinson Howe, Mary Lacy Rieke, Helen Garner Rieke and Carter Brian Rieke. Don is also survived by his brothers-in-law William David Lacy and wife, Nancy, Thomas Leachman Lacy and wife, Lisa, and sister-in-law, Gayle Lacy, as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews.
Don’s family is grateful for the thoughtful, professional, and compassionate care he received from Charlie Mae Wells, Ella McCoy, Andrea Arnett, and Pat Willis and hospice nurses Michelle Small and Leslie Marshall.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the following: Meals on Wheels Waco - mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org; Amedisys Hospice (Waco) - Amedisys.com; Ascension Providence Hospital Foundation - supportprovidence.org
