Howard Stanley Gruber

Howard S. Gruber. After a long, well-lived life of 92 years, Howard S. Gruber died peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Longwood of Oakmont (Pittsburgh PA) on November 7, 2017.  He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Martha (Sampson) Gruber, son Michael (Mary Phan-Gruber) of Pittsburgh, daughter Lisa (Steven) Douridas of Las Vegas, and was an amazing “Papa” to four grandchildren: Leslie (Sean) Steele, Emily (fiancé Jeremy Friedman) Phan-Gruber, Heather Douridas and Joshua (Shannon Deep) Phan-Gruber, and two great grandchildren (Noah and Bethany Steele).  Howard was born and raised in Columbus Ohio as the youngest child of Harry and Lillian Gruber.  He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings:  Amelia Gruber, Helen (Martin) Winter, Madelyn (Milton) Hirsh, Gerald (Pearl) Gruber, Lydia (Gus) Levinson and Matilda Gruber.  Howard is survived by in-laws Mary (Tony) Priore, Patricia Miller, Katie Westjohn, Wilma (Jerry) Neeley, Claude Lambert and Carol (Richey) Sharrett.  He was predeceased by in-laws Robert Sampson, Ann Lambert, Richard Miller and Jerry Westjohn.  Howard was also a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews. After high school, Howard took accounting classes and eventually rose to become Vice-President of Purchasing and Operations at Bonded Scale & Machine Company, where he had a career for 39 years, and he was a member of the Columbus Purchasing Association.  An active volunteer for many years in Canal Winchester, he was a member of the Lions Club, and a basketball scorekeeper and high school football spotter for nearly 30 years.  Having also served as President of the Athletic Boosters Club, his leadership and dedication were recognized with his induction into the Canal Winchester Athletic Hall of Fame.  Howard was an avid bowler, golfer, rabid Ohio State fan, and a strategic card player. He also became an accomplished woodworker after his retirement and generously shared his creations with family and friends.  Howard and Martha especially enjoyed traveling to Alaska and Hawaii and also toured all the continental 48 states. Before their move to Longwood in 2014, Howard and Martha were full-time residents in Englewood, Florida for 13 years.  Howard’s love for Florida started much earlier—with three decades of visits to Siesta Key, including last year, where he and Martha enjoyed several weeks each fall with a treasured group of friends from Wisconsin and other states. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Howard’s engaging personality, wonderful sense of humor, innate intelligence, dedication to family and friends, and joy for life at a memorial service at Longwood on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at noon with lunch afterward or at a later date to be announced next spring in Columbus Ohio.  Donations in memory of Howard may be sent to any Salvation Army or veteran's organization. Arrangements entrusted to English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc, Oakmont, PA. Online condolences may be made to: www.englishfuneralhome.com 

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