Howard Peter Reshoft passed away peacefully in Woodland, California January 7, 2019 at the age of 84 at his daughter Debbie Ramming's home .  He was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Chicago schools. After enlisting in the Army, he moved to Lompoc in the mid-1950s and was stationed at Camp Cook as a Military Police Officer.  He met his late wife, Sherry Nickerson, while he was stationed at Camp Cook and she worked in the record keeping office of the Federal Correctional Institution of Lompoc . After he processed out of the service with an honorable discharge, he served on the Lompoc Police Department as a patrolman, rising through the ranks to retire as a Captain. While still at the Police Department, Howard began a concurrent career with Santa Barbara County as a process server and after his  retirement from the Police Department, he became the Marshall for Santa Barbara County until his final retirement. He enjoyed spending time with family in Lompoc, cheering grandkids and great grandkids in their various sports activities, visiting family and friends near and far, and traveling with Sherry.

Howard never met a stranger, being blessed with the gift of gab and an incredible ability to make connections with everyone he met.  He enjoyed vacationing throughout his life, including trips to Hawaii and Disneyland, cruises to Alaska, and train trips to Colorado and northern California. Other hobbies included barbecuing, classic cars, listening to jazz and classic country music, and riding around town.  Howard was a well informed tour guide for his family in Lompoc and Woodland, often sharing more details than the family he was visiting knew of their own town!

Howard closely followed his favorite Chicago teams; the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Cubs.  He celebrated heartily with the Chicago Cubs World Series win in 2016, and had the chance to take in a Cubs game at AT&T park during the summer of 2018.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents John and Alice, his brothers Roy, John Jr., sister Charlene, and his beloved wife of 59 years, Sherry.  Howard is survived by his daughters Debra (husband Robert Ramming, son Adam Ramming, daughters April Mackill, Julie Giger, and Karen Ramming), Charlene (husband Steven Payne, son Jason Reshoft, daughters Claire Payne and Sherry Payne, son Keith Payne, granddaughters Lauren and Keeli Reshoft, grandson Logan Reshoft, and granddaughter Lyla Stringer) and April (husband Todd Vassar, son Ethan Vassar).

A service for Howard will be held at the Pavillion of the Lompoc Cemetery, January 19, 2019 at 9 a.m. A celebration of Howard's life will be held January 19 at 12 p.m. at Cafe San Martin in Lompoc.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Lompoc or to AYSO of Lompoc in Howard's name.