One of Harlan County's most beloved and respected physicians died Wednesday night in Lexington.

Howard served the medical needs of countless Harlan Countians for more than half a century.

Howard, 92, a native of Harlan, died March 19, 2003, at Saint Joseph's Medical Center.

He was raised as a member of the Harlan First Presbyterian Church. For the last several years he had been a member of the Rosspoint Church of Christ.

He was a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. A former major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he served as a surgeon during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He came to Harlan in 1946 following his discharge from the Army. He was chief of surgery at the Harlan Hospital from 1946 until 1973. He was a long-time member of the Harlan City Council, on which he served for 18 years. He was a former president of the Harlan Kiwanis Club. Howard operated a private medical practice in Harlan from 1973 until June 2002.

He is preceded in death by his parents, G. Turner Howard and Nancy Smith Howard; two brothers: Gen. Edwin Brittain Howard and Dr. Moses Wilkerson Howard; and two sisters: Nina Howard McKinley and Virginia Howard Cook.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Wilder Howard; two sons: Dr. Robert Smith Howard II and wife, Dr. Teresa Ann Howard, Largo, Fla.; and Joseph Brittain Howard, L.L.M, J.D., M.B.A., and wife, Mary Greene Howard, Corbin; a brother, Dr. G. Turner Howard Jr., Knoxville; and two grandchildren: Mary Elizabeth Howard and William Brittain Howard, both of Corbin.

Visitation is Saturday from 11 a.m. until the hour of the funeral at First Presbyterian Church in Harlan.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Fred Griffie.

Burial will follow at the Resthaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harlan First Presbyterian Church or the Rosspoint Church of Christ.

Anderson & Laws Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.