Gwinneth Ann (Gwinnie) Howard of Lompoc, California passed away peacefully on October 27th. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on April 20th, 1920, Gwinnie approached life with the kind of pioneer spirit that never let tragedy loom too large. Despite the loss of two husbands and two sons, Gwinnie was always eager to share a laugh with her many friends and her always expanding family. She never seemed to laugh louder than at a decent joke at her own expense.

Gwinnie found great happiness in sharing her impressive musical talent with others. She was a church organist for over 60 years, accompanist to many community outreach programs and an endlessly encouraging musical director for countless performances in her living room given by a revolving cast of grandchildren of sometimes less-than-professional ability. Her life was alive with song.

Gwinnie was as comfortable on the plains of Wyoming where she was born as she was in Washington DC where her first child was born. She was proud to call Lompoc her home since 1963, having built the house in which she passed away.

Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her first husband John Clark, her second husband George E. Howard Jr, and sons John and William. She is survived by daughters Gwinneth, Barbara, and Jill, son George, ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, dog Mimi and the organ at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lompoc, where she was organist for over 30 years.

Services will be held Saturday morning, November 5th at 9 a.m. St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2800 Harris Grade Road, Lompoc.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church and also to one of its youth programs, The Red Shirt Project connected to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.