Howard L. Fisher

Howard L. Fisher, 82, of 173 Fisher Lane, died at 7:40 a.m. Friday August 20, 2010 at Sugar Creek Station.
A son of Fred P. and Vada White Fisher he was born on the family homestead, Bon Air Farm near Franklin on April 6, 1928. He was a 1946 graduate of Oil City High School.
He began his working career as a fruit farmer raising apples at Bon Air Farm. He later was well known as a home builder. He built Crestwood, Continental and Ridge Homes through out Venango County and the surrounding area. He developed Broad Oaks Development in the Franklin Heights consisting of the Evergreen Drive, Aspen Drive and Edwin Circle.
He retired from his construction business in 1978 to work in the world headquarters of World Gospel Mission. He ventured around the world and throughout the United States with W.G.M. leading work crusades building churches and schools. Even after his retirement he actively volunteered for World Gospel Mission and Kentucky Mountain Bible College.
Aviation was his passion. He began flying in 1956. He served as a pilot for the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and later for World Gospel Mission. As part of the Wings of Peace program he and another pilot flew a single engine plane to Bolivia. He built and flew a Spad 7 a replica of the WW I plane flown by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. He was involved in several ventures at the Venango County Airport. Venavia was a flight school and Chickadee Air Service provided charter flights from Franklin. He enjoyed providing many area residents their first flying experience either from the airport or his airstrip on the farm.
Active in the community he was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church, past president of the Franklin Kiwanis Club, Served on the Venango County Selective Service Board in the 1960s and early 70s. He also served on the Oil City School Board during the construction of the new high school and was on the original board of Two Mile Run County Park.
Surviving are his wife the former Inez L. Hughes whom he married June 25, 1949, a daughter Cyndi F. Smith and her husband Jack of Franklin, 4 grandchildren Jodi Hoover and her husband Rob, Steve Smith and his wife Rachael, Charlie Smith and his wife Stacy all of Franklin and Sarah Rink and her husband Logan of Jacksonville, FL. and 8 great-grandchildren Keegan, Ethan, Ellie, Sam, Brandon, Paige, Camden and Isabelle. Also surviving are a brother Fred E. Fisher and his wife Peggy of Biglerville, two sisters-in-law Edwina Jacobs and her husband Jim of Avon Park, FL and June Bell and her husband Paul of Albertville, AL and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Edwin F. Fisher in Viet Nam 1971 and two brothers Gerald Fisher and Fran Fisher. Friends will be received in the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St. from 1-4 p.m. Sunday and from 10 -11 a.m. Monday in the Bethel United Methodist Church, Dempseytown Road, Franklin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Joseph P. Martin, pastor officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bethel Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marian, IN 46952.