A longtime resident of San Antonio, Howard was a native of East Stroudsburg, PA where he was born on June 6, 1930. Following his college education at Lehigh, he attended the University of Pennsylvania medical school and trained as a family physician, graduating in 1955. Military service brought him to San Antonio for several tours and, after he left active duty in the Army, he returned in 1962 and spent the remainder of his life here.

Howard married first in 1955 to Marian Barbour (1927-2015), with whom he had two sons and one daughter. After their divorce in 1971, he married a second time to Ruth Mara Liedtka and enjoyed 45 years of happy life together with her until his death.

He was an avid life-long learner and enjoyed traveling, bridge, golf, music, and collecting wine. He sang for several years as part of the San Antonio Mastersingers, became a Life Master at Bridge in 2006, and was one of the original Spurs season ticket holders in 1973, remaining one to the present day. As a physician, he practiced family and geriatric medicine, and, later in his career, helped organize and lead the Bexar County Geriatric Society and the Texas State Geriatric Society.

Howard is survived by his wife Ruth Frederick, son John H. Frederick Jr. of San Antonio, son David C. Frederick of McLean, VA, daughter Jane E. Frederick of South Euclid, OH, stepson Frederick (Tex) Liedtka of San Antonio, stepson Scott Liedtka of Helsinki, Finland, stepson Gregg Liedtka, of Moses Lake, WA, and 14 grandchildren.

A memorial celebration of his life was held on September 6, 2016.