Howard Avery Milligan, Jr.
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Howard Avery Milligan, Jr., died on February 25, 2019, with his family by his side.
Howard was born on October 18, 1942 in Jackson Heights, New York to the late Howard Avery Milligan, Sr. and Helen (Denner) Milligan. His father’s job brought the family back to their Philadelphia-area roots in 1955. He was a 1960 graduate of Springfield (Delco) High School, where he played football, wrestled and ran track. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as a tank driver. Following his service, he returned home and worked for Sunroc as a draftsman. It was there that he met the love of his life. He married Patricia Lyn Ryan on July 23, 1966. They settled in Parkesburg, Chester County in 1972, where they raised their three sons.
Howard was a long-time youth football and baseball coach, and long-suffering Philadelphia sports fan. While he loved caring for his yard, fixing things around the house, collecting coins, watching movies and reading about history, constant devotion to his family is what he loved most and did best.
In addition to Pat, his wife and best friend of 53 years, he is survived by his three sons: Greg (Carol) of Carlisle, PA; Keith (Gina) of Fairhaven, MA; and Jeff (Gretchen) of Parkesburg; seven grandchildren: Isaac, Jake, Ben, Audrey, Quinn, Emma and Bailey, and a sister Helen (Milligan) Skelley of Chichester, PA.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main Street, Parkesburg, PA with visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family would request a donation in Howard’s name be made to the Chester County SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380.
Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com
Condolences
I am so very sorry for your
I am so very sorry for your loss. My heartfelt sympathy go out to you and your family. Sending you lots of prayers.
Howard was a good man and will be missed.
We are sending deep condolences to the entire Milligan family. Howard was a good man and will be missed. May he rest in peace and hopefully in time, you will find comfort in all of your great memories and stories.
A Great Man, A Second Father, A Coach
Mr. Milligan was a tower in our neighborhood. I feared him. I respected him. I loved him. He would spend time pitching for us in the backyard ballfield, stood in the cold to watch us play hockey, gave always helpful batting tips, set up games when we could think of none, settled arguments, broke up fist fights and unruly boyhood battles. When he rang the bell it was time for supper. If his sons didn't heed the bell, and he had to boom his voice across the yards, they wouldn't be out the next night. He was a huge reason I loved baseball. He was made of an old fashioned iron, strong and gentle, the kind they don’t use much anymore.
I am very sorry for your loss
I am very sorry for your loss. A donation has been made to the Brandywine Valley (Chester County) SPCA in Howard's name.
A true insperation.
Thank you Howard, for being a inspiration in my life as a young man, your never quit attitude has stayed with me thru life, it was truely an honor to have known you. To the Milligan family, i dont have the words to explain how you must feel in losing such a great man, my deepest heartfelt sorrow goes out to you and your family.
Will miss you Friend
Believe am speaking for all Howard's former, fellow employees at Suburban Cable saying how sorry we are to hear of Howard's passing and how glad we are to have known him. Thank you for the friendship.