• Richard Carl Howell obituary.
Richard Carl Howell, owner-operator of Greer Roofing Company, died Sunday. He was 66.
The Howell family founded Greer Roofing in 1971, first with Lyman Howell, Richard’s father. Richard took over the reigns of the company in about 1976.
“Richard and his dad started that business with an old pickup truck and tar kettle,” Mike Bullock, a lifelong friend and barber, said. “He took that business to another level and he roofed I don’t know how many school roofs in Greenville County.”
“He was a hard-working man. I never heard anybody who didn’t say he did a job right,” Stan Coster, another lifetime friend of Howell, said. “Most of his life he worked hard and had a beautiful family.”
“Richard really liked doing his job and doing it well,” Bullock said. “He loved his family.”
Howell was a native of Greer and served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War.
“I loved him like a brother,” Bullock said. “He did so much for me and didn’t need do. He just wanted to help.”
Coster said Howell took to camping and the outdoors. “He would enjoy driving in his camper and traveling to different places,” Coster said.
Howell bought a second home above Lake Jocassee and frequently visited there for the serenity and hosting family and friends.
Howell took his camper to Clemson games to tailgate. “He enjoyed Greer and Clemson very much,” Coster said.
“It wouldn’t take anybody long to realize how much Richard loved Greer,” Bullock said
Howell also became involved in Joshua’s Way through his friendship with founder David Rogers, who died in 2010.
“He was proactive in causes for Greer and the public,” Coster said. “He was always there for you.”
“He was that kind of person,” Bullock said. “People of Greer loved that.”
Coster and Bullock, who will be among the pallbearers Tuesday, agreed he will be sorely missed. “His family, friends and all of us will miss him,” Bullock said.
The Greer Roofing Company is in good hands. “Richard told me, Sam, his son, is doing a good job with the business and will probably take it to a whole new level,” Bullock said.