Howard D. Dakin, 85, died Feb 19, 2001. He was born May 5, 1915, in Calumet to Catherine MacKay and Harold J Dakin.
He moved with his family to the Detroit area as a young boy and delivered papers for The Detroit News. In high school, he worked as an elevator operator for Henry Ford Hospital to help supplement his family income during the Depression.
He married Eleanor Bowsher Jan 17, 1941, in Ohio. She preceded him in death on Sep 17, 1993.
He was a life member of Phoenix Masonic Lodge 13 in Ypsilanti.
He graduated from General Motors Institute and worked for General Motors in Tarrytown, NY, and as an instructor at an aircraft plant in Indianapolis, IN during WWII, teaching construction of airplanes for use in the war.
He also held a degree in industrial arts from Wayne State University. He retired from Ford Motor Company in 1970, where he had worked in the Dearborn Rouge plant as a tool and die supervisor and the Utica Trim Plant as quality control supervisor.
Kalkaska County was his home base for 50 years. He owned and operated with his family, Cedar Beach Resort on Manistee Lake in Coldsprings Township. He also served for a time as the chairman of Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners, the Zoning Board of Appeals and CETA. He moved to the Petoskey area in 1995, where he lived the last of his life.
Howard loved the outdoors, hunting, camping, and fishing in Canada with his wife. In his later years he became an avid bowler. He was a very kind, generous and loving husband, father, and grandfather; he will be missed forever by his family.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Bruce Daking.
He is survived by daughters, Carol (Errol) Lee of Boyne Falls, and Janet (Frank) Stokes of New Smyrna Beach, FL; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren; nephews, Douglas (Pauline) Dakin of California; and William (Gail) Dakin of California.
No services are planned at this time. Private family services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalkaska Public Library, Kalkaska, MI, or Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, Petoskey, MI.
Arrangements were made by Stone Funeral Home, Petoskey.
