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Howard Lee Farra, 91, of Zion, Ill., passed away at home following a lengthy illness.

Howard was born on Aug., 8, 1920, in Lewisburg, Ohio. He was a 1942 graduate of Ohio State University, and served in the Coast Guard. He was employed by Pure Oil Company in Columbus, Ohio, and transferred to Union Oil Company in Schaumburg, Ill., 1961.

His marriage of 57 years to Jane Craigmiles ended with her death in 2001. Howard was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Zion, and was actively involved until recently. It was there that he met Arlie Klebe and they married eight years ago. She always said he was “the perfect man.” He valued his golfing buddies, the Hardy Hiker group, enjoyed playing bridge at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan, dominoes with church friends and spending time with his large combined family. He enjoyed the notoriety of becoming 88 on 8-8-08.

Survivors include his wife, Arlie; his son, Matthew (Sue) Farra, Trevor, Wis.; daughter, Tamma Farra, Bremerton, Wash.; grandchildren, Ben (Tulika) Chobot, Kate (Tom) Wilson, Seattle, Wash.; stepchildren, Gary Klebe, Kenosha, Wis., Lorie (Silvio Martinez) Wheaton, Ill., Tim (Debbie) Klebe, Lake Villa, Ill., Lisa Johnson, Beach Park; step grandchildren, Austin, Aaron, and Allison Martinez, Alexis (Andrew) Perron, Damien and Olivia Johnson; and great step grandchild, Andrew Perron Jr.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at Memorial Methodist Church in Zion, Ill. Visitation will be Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. until the service. Another visitation will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at F.C. Daehler Mortuary Company in Portsmouth, followed by burial at Memorial Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to his church would be appreciated.