Robert Whiting Howe, 92, of Albion, died at 3:02 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi, Illinois.

Born in Princeton on April 22, 1923, son of Conrad Miln and Ada (Whiting) Howe, he grew up on the Howe family farm along Old Patoka Road. His family settled just north of Princeton in the late 1700s.

He attended Princeton schools and at age 15, began working with the Whiting Brothers stockyards in Evansville, as a livestock buyer.

He and Audrey Estelle Thomas of Haubstadt were married Feb. 14, 1943, in Arkansas.

He served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation ordinanceman in World War II. Following the war, he continued working as a livestock buyer in Evansville, Richmond and Albion until he retired. He also partnered for a number of years with his son in Standardbred harness racing. After retirement, he was a still a regular fixture at the Edwards County Fairgrounds horse stables in Albion.

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

As a Hadi Shriner, he was popular figure in area parades for decades, performing as the swordsman member of Hadi Shrine Temple’s Oriental Band.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8222 of Albion and Moose Lodge 621, and was involved for more than 50 years in the Free and Accepted Masons, in Prince Lodge 231 and Hermitage Masonic Lodge 356 of Albion. He was also a Kentucky Colonel and a past exalted ruler of the Princeton Elks Lodge.

Surviving are his wife of 73 years, Audrey E. Howe; daughters Barbara (Harvey) McCants of Kingsport, Tennessee and Martha (Leroy) Speir of Albion; son Richard Stanley (Andrea) Howe of Princeton; grandchildren Anna Manley and Brian McCants, Robert “Randy,” Michael and Audra Speir, Leann Lear, Catina Burkdoll, Gretchen Taylor, Hayle and Robert “Drew” Howe; 17 great grandchildren; a sister, Marilyn Adams of Surprise, Arizona; nieces and nephews and a cousin, Vera (Howe) Archer now of Indianapolis.

Visitation is at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Masonic rites will be performed at 7 p.m.

Funeral service is at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, Brother David Shain of First Presbyterian Church of Albion officiating. Burial, with military rites, follow at Archer Cemetery in Princeton.