Dallas Howard

Dallas C. Howard

May 26, 1943 — November 24, 2024

Northbrook, IL

Dallas C. Howard, a cherished husband, father and friend, passed away on November 24, 2024, at the

age of 81. Born on May 26, 1943, in Lawton, OK, Dallas dedicated his life to both his family and his

community in Lawton, Oklahoma, and Northbrook, IL.

For 58 years, he was happily married to his beloved wife, Karen Jean. Dallas and Karen traveled widely

through Europe over the years, especially since their retirement, spending many a happy holiday in

France. Dallas and Karen met at the University of Oklahoma, where Dallas graduated with a B.S. and

M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Dallas took to college life like a fish to water, joining Delta Tau Delta

fraternity his freshmen year and being heavily involved in intramurals (including being on the

Intramurals Board). Alas, he was sometimes too involved in campus life, but his father, J.D., only had to

explain the facts of life to him once with regards to course work and grades. . . Dallas and Karen

remained life-long fans of the Oklahoma Sooners, having OU football season tickets for 49 years, and

indoctrinating everyone who sat around them to intone “good snap, good hold, good kick” before every

extra point or field goal.

After college, Dallas and Karen moved to Ft. Worth, TX, for him to start a job at General Dynamics

working on the electronic countermeasures of the F-111 and, more importantly, making life-long

friends. After leaving Ft. Worth, Dallas and Karen returned many times to see friends and eat at Joe T.

Garcia’s.

After attending his tenth year high school reunion for his alma mater, Lawton High School, Dallas and

Karen decided to leave Ft. Worth to return to Lawton for him to become a general contractor. His

father, J.D., had been a local general contractor for many years who had recently retired, but Dallas felt the

pull to return to Lawton and his father’s longtime career. The Dallas Howard Construction Co. was

borne in the summer of 1970 and built and remodeled many commercial buildings over the ensuing

forty years. Many friends entrusted their homes to Dallas as well, a trust he took seriously.

Not long after returning to Lawton, Dallas and Karen welcomed their son Bradley Dallas (Monique), and

raised him there. Dallas was an excellent father and also a proud grandfather to his grandson, Carter

Dallas, who he was teaching to drive a stick shift.

Dallas was an involved member of the community serving on many boards and committees, including

the town’s Bicentennial Committee, committees related to the McMahon Auditorium and various

committees and boards at his churches. However, he most loved performing, including singing in the

church choir or acting and/or singing at the Lawton Community Theatre.

After he and Karen retired, they bought a condo in Northbrook to be closer to his son, daughter-in-law

and grandson and began spending more time in Northbrook until moving full-time in the summer of

2018. In Northbrook, he made fast friends and took up pickleball, which he was still playing this

summer.

Dallas is preceded in death by his parents, J.D. (James Dallas) and Mildred (nee Douglas) Howard, his

sister, Nancy (the late Don) Maurer, and his brother, Douglas Howard. In addition to his wife, son,

daughter-in-law and grandson, he’s also survived by his brother-in-law, Randall F. Hirzel (Joe Diaz), his

aunt (Gwen Hale) and his many cousins.

A life well-lived, Dallas Howard's legacy will endure through the countless lives he touched and the love

he shared with his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, and if you are so inclined, please donate to a

charity close to your own heart.

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options in Schiller Park, Illinois.