Howard Lee Chandler

Howard was born on Friday March 22, 1940, in Richmond Indiana to Hugh Wright Chandler and Mary Elizabeth Kinsey Chandler. Passed peacefully at home on Saturday December 13, 2025.

The family will receive visitors at Parrish Funeral Home on Tuesday December 16, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at 4:00 PM on Tuesday in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Debra “Debbie” Carol Deans Chandler, siblings Bernice Creech and husband Bill of St Petersburg FL, Carol Wolke of Richmond IN, Mark Chandler and wife Debbie of Bradenton FL, Sons Brian Hugh Chandler of Dunn NC, Alan W. Chandler and wife Deanna of Jacksonville FL, Daughter Dawn Marie Chandler Davis and husband Eddie of Dunn NC, 11 grandchildren including Shane Fitch and Andrew Fitch who they raised and 16 great-grandchildren.

Howard was preceded in death by daughter Tonya Carol Chandler Fitch and husband Jonathan Fitch, and daughter Cheryl Lynn Chandler Venezia.

Howard grew up in Richmond. In June 1958, Howard graduated from Richmond Senior H.S. in Richmond IN, enlisted in US Air Force at age 19 in March 1959. As Airman First Class – Avionics Technician, he was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro NC, and Homestead Air Force Base in Miami FL for the build-up over the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left the military in March 1962 for civilian life, working for Electro Mechanical Research company in Sarasota/Bradenton performing electronics troubleshooting and repairs for NASA Gemini space missions.

In 1968 he moved his family to Pine Level NC to work at GTE Sylvania in Smithfield supervising a team of technicians performing production testing and repairs and remained until being transferred in 1978. During those years he helped raise children, was part of the maintenance team at Pine Level Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, den dad in the Pine Level cub scout troupe, and Pine Level PTA.

He married Debbie in November 1978, transferred to GTE Sylvania in Juarez Mexico for 4 years. The years that followed he worked for several different electronics and electronics service companies as technician and supervisor, in locations Huntsville AL, Lancaster SC and retired, making his way back to Smithfield NC in 2012.

He was always very determined, very detailed and hardworking, but nothing was ever more important to him than family.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at Parrishfh.com