Benjamin "Howard" Mabry

Benjamin Howard (Clark) Mabry, born November 30, 1927 in Minnesota to Benjamin A. Clark of Oregon and Dorothy M. Schulz of Nebraska, died on August 7, 2021, due to the progression of dementia.

Most of his childhood, Howard lived in Nebraska. When he was young, his parents divorced and his mother remarried. Howard took his step-father’s name of Mabry.

Howard’s niece, Linda Snyder of Las Vegas, recalls he was the first in the family to get a TV.

On Oct 2, 1948, Howard joined the US Army, re-enlisting several times. His military journey took him to Korea, Germany and Alaska.

After serving twelve years in the Army, Howard moved to New Hampshire and attended the Boston Conservatory of Music where he studied classical music and concert piano.

He excelled at and enjoyed his music and photography throughout his post military life. Howard also had a penchant for model railroads, having worked in his pre-military years as a mail handler for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB & Q) Railroad.

His move to NH also brought him to his public service position at the NH Statehouse where he worked until his retirement at age 72. Howard was a court reporter (or stenographer) for the Legislative branch. In this position, Howard recorded transcripts of meetings and proceedings. He loved this work and was a valued member of the staff. In fact, upon his colleagues learning that Howard was a concert pianist, a piano was brought into the Statehouse lobby where Howard would perform concerts during the noontime hours for all to enjoy.

After a divorce, Howard married Leona Hotin of Peterborough in 1995 and they lived in Bennington, NH for 20 years where they were active members of the Union Congregational Church of Hancock. The couple moved to Wyoming in 2015 where they lived at Leona’s sister and brother-in-law’s home for two years.

Since 2017, Howard and Leona have made their home in Peterborough.

Never having had children of his own, Howard gained five (of six) after marrying Leona. (Leona’s oldest son, Robert, passed away in 1991).

Howard was often known to pull out a harmonica or his home-made bottle flute at any given moment during a family function and play a few tunes. He practiced and played piano until dementia got the better of him. But even then, on good days his fingers could recall a few beautiful pieces.

He will be remembered for his calm and relaxed nature, his joy of the world, his timeliness of a good joke, and his spirited love of his wife, Leona.

Together they traveled the country in a modified van for many years visiting Howard’s family in the midwest and Leona’s in the west.

Howard was indeed a devoted husband and together he and Leona enjoyed a relaxing and comfortable life together for almost thirty years. Travelling throughout the US for many of those years. Howard’s life is an endearing example of a life well lived and loved.

Howard is survived by his wife, Leona, his step-children David Hotin and his wife Stephanie; Susan (Hotin) Renard and her husband Jeff; Daniel Hotin and his wife Dottie; Edward Hotin; Lisa (Hotin) Mathews, as well as many other extended family members.

Of his Nebraska family; he was predeceased by his sister Shirley Patow Shainholtz, and half-brother Tom Clark, and is survived by his half-sister Emma Lou Karloff and his half-brother’s John Mabry and Jack Clark.

A graveside service will be held at the Dublin, NH cemetery on Saturday, August 28th at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Howard's name to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.