Howard Hartings, age 79, of Philothea, died on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Mercer Health in Coldwater.

He was born October 30, 1936, in Celina, Ohio, to the late Herbert & Mary (Forstoff) Hartings. On October 6, 1956 he married Ruth Ann Wappelhorst in St. Anthony and she survives in Philothea.

He is survived by children, Carol & Earl Westgerdes of St. Henry, Barb & AJ Stammen of Cincinnati, Steve Hartings of Coldwater, David & Ahlam Hartings of Apex, NC, Diane & Jack Evans of Celina and Allen Hartings and Tonya Gamble of Coldwater; 16 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; a sister Edna Rentz of Houston, TX; and a sister-in-law Alice & Roger Stoll of Celina.

He is preceded in death by a brother-in-law Gene Rentz.

He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Philothea, the men's society of the church, Coldwater American Legion Post #470 where he was a member of the uniform group, the Coldwater Knights of Columbus Council 1991 where he was an officer and past Grand Knight, St. Gaspar del Bufalo Assembly 825 of Minster, Coldwater V.F.W. Post 5135 and Coldwater Eagles #3025.

Howard was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was many times pinochle champ of the Coldwater Legion League. He worked construction, at the former PET Milk Plant in Coldwater and retired as head of maintenance at Coldwater Schools.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, February 15, 2016 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Philothea. Burial with military rites will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home-Coldwater on Sunday, February 14, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and on Monday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.