Obituary of Gen. Howard A. Louderback

Major General Howard Ashton Louderback, Jr., U.S. Army (Ret.), 90, of Lawrenceville died Friday at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton. Born in Trenton, he resided in Lawrenceville most of his life and since 1950 in the house he proudly built himself. General Louderback had distinguished careers in both the banking industry and the military. He started his career in banking in 1935 with the First Mechanics National Bank in Trenton. Later he was employed by Security National Bank and eventually Trenton Trust Bank serving as President until the merger with National State Bank in 1972. He retired from banking in 1984 as Vice-President with The National State Bank. He began his long career with the Army upon his enlistment in June of 1942. He attended OCS at Fort Benning, GA and graduated and commissioned as a Second Lt., Infantry in 1943. He was assigned overseas in 1944 to Germany and France and commissioned a Captain where commanded CO I, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He went on to graduate from Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1946 and was reassigned overseas to the 9th Infantry Division and served as Company Commander. He was discharged from active duty in 1947 and joined the 78th Division as a reservist. As a reservist his assignments included Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 309th Infantry Regiment and of the 2nd Battalion, 78th Regiment, Division Commander 1st Brigade 78th Division. His promotion to Major General was in February of 1975 and he retired in February of 1978. Among his many awards and commendation were the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Belgian-Croix De Guerre, European Theatre Medal, World War II Victory and Occupation Medals, Reserve Forces Medals, Secretary of defense Medal, and two citations from President Reagan for service to the Nation. He became a member of the Infantry Hall of Fame at Fort Benning Georgia in 1978. In his civilian life he was named the Mercer County Citizen of the Year by the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce in 1984. He also served as a director or board member of many organizations including the Greater Trenton Symphony, Mercer County Vo-Tech School Board, Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, Rescue Mission of Trenton, St. Francis Medical Center Advisory Board, NJ World Trade Committee, Mercer County Community College Foundation, Trustee with the Delaware Valley United Way, United States Army war College Foundation, Lawrence Twp. Economic Development Committee, Board of Trustees Old Barracks Association and was Vice Chairman of the Lawrence Twp. Veterans Memorial Committee. His many memberships included the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association, 78th Division Veterans and Boy Scouts of America, George Washington Council. Son of the late Howard A. Louderback Sr. and Viginia Gary Louderback, and father of the late Kirk Louderback he is survived by his wife, Norma Pullen Louderback; two sons, Gary Louderback and his wife Patricia of Lawrenceville and Terry Louderback and his wife Marianne of Newton, MA; six grandchildren, Cindy Garner and her husband Ron of Lock Haven, PA; Donna Mauer of Levittown, PA; Richard Louderback of Lawrenceville, Kristina Grady and her husband Tim of Hopkinton, MA; Paul Louderback of Boston, MA and Eric Louderback of Newton, MA, eight great-grandchildren, Steven, Rachel, Jessica and Kevin Garner, Kelsey and Dylan Mauer and Mikayla and Liam Grady; his brother, Richard Louderback and his wife Betty of Media, PA and nephews, Richard and Gregory Louderback. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 Am at the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, 1039 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, with the Rev. Nina Reeder, Pastor officiating. A reception will immediately follow in fellowship hall at the church. Burial with military honors will be at 2 PM in the Ewing Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, 1039 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.