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Howard Irvin Monks, Jr.
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November 2, 1917 ~ October 9, 2012 |
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October 10, 2012 |
 Howard
Irvin Monks, Jr., 94, passed away at Life Care
in Sandpoint on October 9, 2012. Memorial
services will be held on Saturday, October 27,
in Grandview Cemetery, Bonners Ferry.
Born November 2, 1917, in Bonners Ferry to
Howard I. and Mary Monks. Graduated from B.F.
High School in the Class of 1935. Attended the
University of Idaho from 1935-1939, member of
Delta Chi Fraternity, did not graduate. Worked
for Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company in New
Haven, Connecticut, from June 1939 through
September 1941.
Returned to University of Idaho January, 1942,
and completed Bachelor of Science Degree in
chemistry, graduated June 1942. From November,
1942 to April, 1943, he worked on an Army Corp
of Engineers surveying project in Alaska,
surveying a railroad route from Fairbanks to
Nome.
June 1943 left for Boca Raton, Florida, to enter
Army Air Corps basic training as an aviation
cadet. While there, he met the love of his life,
Jean LaMotte. Trained in various locations until
December, 1944, when he set sail from San Pedro,
California, en route to Hobart, Tasmania, and
then on to Bombay, India. From there he traveled
by train to Calcutta, where he was assigned to
duty with the Maintenance Division of the
India-Burma Air Service Command. He later moved
North to Assam in northern India.
In April, 1946, with the war ended, he sailed
from Calcutta to New York via the Suez canal,
arriving in May.
On June 13, 1946, Howard boarded the Empire
Builder and returned to Florida to marry his
sweetheart, Jean. They had corresponded
throughout the war, and were married in Tampa on
June 24, 1946. Howard and Jean honeymooned in
Glacier National Park and took up residence in
Bonners Ferry, where Howard worked for the
Resident State Highway Engineer.
In 1948, Howard returned to the U of I for
graduate work in education. Fall of 1948, Howard
accepted a teaching position at Kellogg High
School and began career as a chemistry teacher.
In June, 1951, Howard was called back to active
service from the Air Force Reserves. Howard was
assigned to Greenland Air Base Narssuak, where
he ran the base school. In August 1952, Howard
returned from Greenland and rejoined his family.
In July 1953, Howard and family moved to Coos
Bay, Oregon, where he taught chemistry and was
head of the science department at Marshfield
High School. In 1968, Howard became the director
of data processing for School District 9 and
ushered the school district into the computer
age.
Howard finished his career in education as
principal of Michigan Avenue Junior High,
retiring in June, 1977.
On retirement, Howard and Jean returned to Idaho
and took up residence at Robinson Lake. The
summer cabin which had been constructed in 1969
was added onto to become the lovely home that
graces the shores of Robinson Lake to this day.
Howard and Jean made Robinson Lake their home
until 1996, when they moved into the Monks home
on Washington Street in Bonners Ferry. Howard
lived at the home his father had built until
June, 2011, when failing health forced his move
to Luther Park Assisted Living center in
Sandpoint. He lived there until March of 2012,
when failing health forced a move to the Life
Care Center in Sandpoint, where he passed away
on October 9, 2012.
Family and friends are invited to sign Howard’s
book at
www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. |
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