Howard Lee Ecton, 97, of Salina, Kansas, passed away from complications of Dysphagia, on Tuesday, April 30th, at Salina Regional Health Center.

Howard was born in Coyville, Kansas on March 16, 1927, to Carl and Blanche (Fishburn) Ecton. His family farmed and he grew up with three brothers, Leonard, Dean, and Charles, who all preceded him in death along with one baby sister.

At the age of 18, he was selected in the draft for World War II and served as a military police officer who guarded the prisoners. Upon arriving back in the U.S., he married Dorothy Mae Brown in January 1949 and they were married almost 67 years until her death in 2015. Howard and Dorothy had three children, Alan Ecton, Connie Reeve, and Steve Ecton, who all preceded him in death. Upon retirement, they sold their home and bought a 5th wheel to travel the countryside. Their travels led them to 47 states, Canada, and Mexico. They deeply enjoyed sharing time with their six grandchildren and their spouses, who all survive, Layla Peppers (Lyn) of Salina, Jennifer Mead (Doug) of Kansas City, Missouri, Stephanie Hernandez Estanislado of Mission, Texas, Aimee Ecton of Edinburg, Texas, Julie Ecton of Salina, and Lana Bustamante (Phillip) of Garden City. Howard and Dorothy were also blessed with 19 great grandchildren: Alice Bustamante, Amelia Bustamante, James Bustamante, Miri Bustamante, Katie Mead, Kylie Mead, Jonathan Ecton-Rodriguez, Abigal Hernandez, James Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, Madalyn Hernandez, Nathaniel Hernandez, Victoria Hernandez, Alyssa Peppers, Lexy (Tyler) Apel, Logan (Alex) Peppers, Jesse Rodriguez, Samantha Rodriguez, Aaron Zambrano, Steven Zambrano (Chelsea), Trenidad Zambrano; and great great grandson, Esrah Zambrano.

Howard’s family will be celebrating his life at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 21st at Prairie Mound Cemetery in Solomon, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels, who brought him his meals for the past several years, please send in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home and Crematory, 500 S. Ohio St., Salina.

The family thanks the wonderful individuals at Meals on Wheels, Pinnacle Park, and Salina Regional Health Center for caring for Howard.