Howard E. Rankins Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

HOWARD E. RANKINS WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 5, 1931 IN MADISONVILLE KY. HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 27, 2017 IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA WHERE HE AND HIS FAMILY HAD LIVED FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. HOWARD PROFESSED CHRIST AT AN EARLY AGE. HE WAS EDUCATED AT ROSENWALD HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE PLAYED BASKETBALL WITH HIS TEAM NUMBER BEING (00,) SOMETHING HE WAS VERY PROUD OF. HE WAS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR. HOWARD MOVED TO CHICAGO, IL WITH THE ENCOURGEMENT FROM HIS BROTHERS AND BEGAN WORKING FOR FORD MOTOR CO. THERE HE WORKED 30 YEARS AND RETIRED IN 1983. HOWARD MET AND MARRIED JO KIMMINS JENNINGS IN, 1980. THEY ENJOYED MANY DAYS ON THE BEACH AT ‘THE POINT’ WHERE HOWARD WOULD RECITE POEMS TO JO. HIS PHILOSOPHY WAS THAT ANYONE CAN SAY “I LOVE YOU” BUT NOT EVERYONE SHOWS IT. HOWARD WAS A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER. HE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY. HE WAS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS” THE GREAT ONE”! HE MET NO STRANGERS. HOWARD LOVED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LOVED HIM. HIS LOVE FOR NATURE AND STORY TELLING MADE HIM A JOY TO BE AROUND. HE WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL AT HOME AT HIS HOME. HE BELIEVED IN FEEDING EVERYONE. NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS OR WHO THEY WERE. HE WOULD SAY “GRAB A SEAT AND GET A PLATE OF FOOD”. HE HAD A MAN CAVE BEFORE A MAN CAVE BECAME POPULAR. THOSE VISITING KNEW IT AS “THE FORT” HE WAS A VERY ACTIVE PERSON OFTEN SKATING AND BIKE RIDING.YOU MIGHT EVEN CATCH HIM PLAYING BASKET BALL. HIS LOVE FOR FISHING, HUNTING AND COOKING OUT WILL BE TRULY MISSED, HE WAS LOVED DEARLY... HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY FATHER: BRADLEY RANKINS; MOTHER: LIZZIE RANKINS; HIS SON HOWARD E. RANKINS JR.; FOUR BROTHERS: DAMON, DANIEL, JAMES, ALVIN SR; ONE SISTER: CURTIS WILLOUGBY; ONE NEPHEW: ALVIN RANKINS JR. AKA BUTCH; TWO NIECES: GLENDA NICHOLSON, KATHERINE COOK; GREAT NIECE: DOUGETTA NOEL; GRAND DAUGHTER: TANYA JONES. HE LEAVES TO CHERISH HIS LIFE AND MEMORIES, HIS WIFE: JO RANKINS; DAUGHTER: ROBYN (CALVIN) BAKER; SON: BRADLEY E. RANKINS; AND DAUGHTER CASEY J. RANKINS ALL FROM INDIANAPOLIS. IN. GRANDCHILDREN: TOYRA HOWARD OF CHICAGO, KIANNA FOSTER OF PHILADELPHIA PA., TERRENCE L. MCGREW JR. OF INDIANAPOLIS, IN, TISON JOHNSON JR., TAYLEN JOHNSON, NATALIA RANKINS, 9 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, NIECES SHERI D. RANKINS, NEDRA FEARS ALL OF CHICAGO; NIECE: CYNTHIA SIMMS OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND NEPHEWS CRANDLE RANKINS OF CALIFORNIA, KENNY SIMMS OF CHICAGO; SISTERS IN LAW: BERTHA RANKINS OF CHICAGO.; EVA FAY THOMAS OF INDIANAPOLIS IN., AND CLARA Z. WARD OF DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD; BROTHERS IN LAW: WILLIAM (MARGARET) KIMMINS OF JACKSON, TN AND ANTHONY WYNN OF FLINT, MI; AND A HOST OF NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND GREAT NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND A MULITIUDE OF LOVING FRIENDS AND OTHER CLOSE FAMILY.

Howard E. Rankins

November 5, 1931 - April 27, 2017