Howard Clinton Wren was born in Chino Valley, Arizona on January 5, 1926 to Weaver Beltran Wren and Hazel (Peggy) Wilcox. He had an older brother Laurance and a younger brother Richard. He met Eleanore Victoria Waldron in southern California. They drove across Death Valley in a Model A to get married in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Mesa Temple, Dec 20, 1949. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Eleanore, children: Nancy Porter (Craig), Barbara Tuttle (Bob), Linda Wren, Robert Wren (Rachel), 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Howard was a lifelong resident of Flagstaff, practicing dentistry for 37 years. He was one of the first three dentists in Flagstaff. In 2021, he and Eleanore moved to Las Vegas to live with Nancy. It was there that he passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023.

Howard has been a member of the LDS Church his entire life. He was the Church's youngest ecclesiastical clerk at the age of 18. He held many positions of leadership and service, but loved his service most as ecclesiastical leader of the LDS student congregation at NAU. He shared his musical skills, teaching skills, and love of the gospel. He served as a worker in the LDS Mesa Temple and as a missionary with Eleanore at NAU. He was a man of great faith.

Howard graduated from Flagstaff High School as valedictorian. He went on to attend ASTC (NAU), UNM, and University of Southern California (Go Trojans!) – graduating in the top of his class as a dentist in 1951. His education did not end there, as he was an avid reader, researcher, and participant in continuing ed.

Howard had a great sense of patriotism and a great love for this country. He lived in a military era, first enrolling in the Navy ROTC, which helped fund his education. Later, he was drafted into the Army as a dentist at Fort Ord. He continued to complete his 20 years of military service in the Air Force Reserve as a dentist, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Howard also loved the community of Flagstaff. He served on the Flagstaff School Board for 10 years, and was a volunteer mentor at the NAU Dental Hygiene School for many years. He was an active member of the Republican Party, on both local and state levels.

One of Howard's favorite pastimes was sports of almost any kind – starting with football in high school, and later with softball, basketball, volleyball, and racquetball as an adult. He participated in several Senior Olympic Games in the Southwest, medaling in walking and softball.

Dad was an avid hiker, especially because he could hike in the beauty of Flagstaff's surroundings. He hiked the Grand Canyon many times, as well, even into his 80's. He could name every plant, trail, body of water, and mountain within Northern Arizona. Target shooting also gave Dad a chance to get outside in the fresh air of Flagstaff, as did his love of gardening. He even became an apiarist (beekeeper) for several years. And we can't forget his love of the Flagstaff nighttime skies.

Dad has always enjoyed music. He took piano lessons as a boy, which skill gave him pleasure his entire life, even playing duets with Mom into their 90's. Earlier, he played trombone in high school and in the Navy Band. He enjoyed singing in choirs and quartets, and singing us to sleep at bedtime!

We cannot overlook Dad's quick wit and clever pranks! …and his love of challenging us with math riddles and puzzles. We will save those for another time and place!

Our dad was a dedicated father and family man. He was a great example to us of compassion, responsibility, loyalty, patience, generosity, honesty and love. He was a principled man to the core – a man of exceptional integrity and quiet humility.

We will miss all of this and more.

Love you, until we meet again…

Please send condolences to Eleanore Wren

3421 Happy Lane

Las Vegas, NV 89120

*No flowers, please. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org.

*Graveside service for family and friends – Saturday, May 6, 1:00 PM

Citizen's Cemetery, Veteran's Section