Mr. Howard Hillard, 78, of Loveland, Ohio, died December 9, 2006 at the home of his son in Troy, Illinois. Mr. Hillard was visiting with his son in Troy, Illinois and was on his way to Oklahoma to celebrate Christmas with his daughter and her family when he suddenly turned ill.

Mr. Hillard is survived by his wife, Colleen (nee: Vearil) Hillard of Loveland, Ohio, his sons, Howard James (Connie) Hillard of Troy, Illinois, and Donald Lynn Hillard of Ohio, his daughter Mrs. Virginia Mae (Robert) Holden of Norman, Oklahoma, his brothers, Joseph, Robert, Ernie, and Terry Hillard of Ohio and Gene Hillard of Kentucky, his sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Esterling, Betty Johnson, Rosemary Minkenbaugh, Brenda and Debbie, all of Ohio, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mr. Hillard is preceded in death by his parents William and Virginia (nee: McMullen) Hillard.

A Memorial Service for Mr. Hillard will be at Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home in Loveland, Ohio on Friday, December 15, 2006.

Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.laughlinfh.com.