Howard Bancroft Tome, age 89, of Rising Sun, MD, passed away peacefully at home on September 12, 2013. He was born on September 23, 1923 in a large farmhouse on the southwest corner of the Dr. Jack and Rowland Roads, Port Deposit, Maryland. During his childhood, the family lived on several farms in Cecil County, surviving the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

He was educated at the Jacob Tome Institute, Port Deposit, Maryland, where he played on the football team.

During World War II, Howard served in the U.S. Army from February 8, 1943 until returning to the United States on June 19, 1945, with separation on August 11, 1946, as a First Lieutenant and final discharge coming on April 1, 1953.

During his time in the service, Howard earned a Battlefield Commission which was an honor bestowed on combat soldiers for exceptional performance in the European Theater of Operations. Besides serving in Germany, he also served in the Philippines.

Howard was married on August 4, 1945 to the former Evelyn Lucille Goodman of Conowingo, Maryland, who preceded him in death on March 1, 2002. The couple had a military wedding in Muskogee, Oklahoma, while he was en route to the Pacific Theater of Operations on the Island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands. They were married for more than 56 years. After the war, he served as an apprentice in his uncle’s construction company in both Maryland (and in Florida during the winters) which led to his life work as a home builder, Realtor, and appraiser in Cecil County for over 50 years.

He became interested in politics and served as Cecil County Commissioner from 1958 to 1962. Howard was one of the founders of Cecil Federal Savings Bank as well as a member of the Cecil County Board of Realtors, Cecil Appraisal Society, Cecil County Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Association of Appraisers.

He served on the Board of Directors of Cecil Federal from 1959 to 2003.

Howard is survived by his son, Joel Howard Tome of Greensboro, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, his daughter, Kay Gwen (Tome) McCullough, his son in law, Paul A. McCullough, two grandsons, Brian McCullough and Kevin McCullough with his wife, Tracy, great-grandsons, Nathaniel & Callum and great-granddaughters, Camryn and Faith.

Howard’s parents,Peter E. Tome and Ella O. (MacCauley) Tome, sisters, Doris Tome Frist and Jean Tome Harrington and brothers, Charles Jacob Tome and Vernon W. “Pete” Tome all preceded him in death.

Howard is also survived by his sister-in-law Geraline Goodman Devonshire, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Carson and Inell Goodman of Conowingo, and his driver and friend, Samantha Demetriou, as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the care and support provided by Seasons Hospice with a special thank you to Faren M. Jones and Tanja Fockler.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, 9/17 from 6-8PM at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A. located at 111 S. Queen St. Rising Sun, MD 21911. A funeral service will take place the following day, 9/18 at 11AM at Janes United Methodist Church, located at 213 Walnut St. Rising Sun, MD 21911, where friends and family may arrive 1 hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Howard’s name to either the Rising Sun High School Howard Tome Memorial or the Conowingo Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, MD 21911