Update Friday Afternoon: Full obituary

Bruce Becker Howes, age 57, of Wilmington, DE, went home to be with his Savior after a long battle with cancer. Pastor Howes is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Patricia Howes; sons, Ken and David Howes; sister, Vicki Howes; and mother Connie Howes. He was preceded in death by his father, Allen H. Howes.

Pastor Howes served as a Presbyterian minister from 1981 until his death. He received both a BS and BA degree from Southern Illinois University, and an MDiv degree from Westminster Theological Seminary of Philadelphia. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry in April of 1982 by Delmarva Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Church and came into the Presbyterian Church in America at Joining and Receiving in 1982.

He led Heritage Presbyterian Church as well as Covenant Presbyterian Church as senior pastor and served at the denominational level as a General Assembly Recording Clerk for 4 years and as Stated Clerk of Heritage Presbytery for many years beginning in 1986. His heart was full of encouragement and service to everyone that knew him, and was especially appreciated by his fellow Stated Clerks for nearly 25 years as he shared his ideas and expertise.

A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Pastor Howes will be held on Monday, June 7, 2010 at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 308 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE at 11 am. The Reverend Tony Stephens, Pastor of Stillwaters Presbyterian Church in Kennett Square, PA will be officiating.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, 1096 Old Churchmans Road, Newark, DE 19713 or Happy Life Children’s Home, 140 Airport Road, New Castle, DE 19720. To express an online condolence, visit www.strano-feeley.com.

Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Newark, DE is providing their services to the Howes family. For more details call them at 302-731-5459

Update Friday morning from Gareth Tonnessen, a fellow minister in Heritage Presbyterian follows:
The funeral will be this coming Monday at 11:00 AM at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Newark, DE. It is at 308 Possum Park Road. There will be a luncheon afterward. It would be great if others in the denomination could make it as well.

Original Story Follows:
Dr. Roy Taylor, the Stated Clerk of the PCA, made the following announcement early Thursday via email to the denominations Stated Clerks.

The Rev. Bruce Howes was fifty-seven years old. He and his wife, Patricia, had two sons, Kenneth and David. He served RPCES and PCA churches in Delaware all of his ministry since graduating from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1982. He served as Stated Clerk of Heritage Presbytery since 1986. He was pastor emeritus of the Heritage Presbyterian Church of New Castle, Delaware and had most recently served as Stated Supply of Trinity PCA in Newark, Delaware. Bruce had been valiantly battling cancer for a number of years.

More details to follow; watch for UPDATES on this story.