Howard Milton "Pat" Higgins

Howard Milton ‘Pat’ Higgins was born on October 18, 1926, in Neavitt, MD, to the late Milton H. Higgins and Ruth L. Gith Higgins. He attended elementary school in Neavitt until the school burned down and everyone was transferred to St. Michaels. After graduating from St. Michaels High School, Pat went to work on the Chesapeake Bay ferry “Herbert R. O’Conner” until enlisting in the Navy during World War II. Pat served from 1944 until 1946 on the USS Varrian. Upon discharge, he returned to the Chesapeake Bay ferry and continued working there until the completion of the Bay Bridge in 1952. At that point, he went to work as a casterman/journeyman at Waverly Press until he retired in 1988. In his younger years, Pat was a crewman on log canoes and was a charter member of the St. Michaels Power Squadron. On August 18, 1956, he married Charlotte Patricia Carey; they built and lived in the same house their entire married life. Upon retirement, Pat and Pat bought a camper and traveled extensively throughout the United States, eventually becoming “snowbirds” and spending the winter months in North Ft. Myers and South Beach Miami, FL. Pat was interviewed for the first issue of “What’s Up Eastern Shore” and Maryland Public Television’s “Spanning the Bay, The Chesapeake Bay Bridge,” as well as being invited to speak at various local meetings. He shared his love of the water with his children, George and Ruth, by teaching them to sail and water ski. Pat remained an active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church throughout his adult life, serving as usher, greeter, treasurer of the Sunday School, and a volunteer at St. Mark’s Thrift Shop. In addition, he was active with Boy Scout Troop 190, seeing his son, George, achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. His memberships include “Master Mason” York Rite Mason, Order of the Eastern Star "Past Patron", VFW 5118, American Legion Talbot Post 70, and a past member of Easton Elks Lodge 1622. Pat was always proud of his daughter, Ruth, for following in his footsteps by serving in the U.S. Navy and being an American Legion State Vice Commander. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, in July 2019; his sister, Sally K. Fenton of Baldwin, MD, and brother, Harold H. Ferguson of Easton. He is survived by his son, George (New York City), his daughter, Ruth (Preston) and her fiancé, Tim (Trappe), his granddaughter, Jennifer Baker (Preston) and her husband, Garrit, and his two great-granddaughters, Madison and Rylie Baker. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital, Philadelphia https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc. Services will be private.

Howard Milton "Pat" Higgins

October 18, 1926 - January 14, 2021