Merrill Tabor Howe Jr.

Merrill Tabor Howe, Jr, 74, of Greenbackville, VA passed away on June 11, 2023, at his home. Born on January 24, 1949, in New Rochelle, NY, he was the son of the late Merrill Tabor Howe, Sr., and Alice Howe (Hunter). After graduating from Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, New York in 1967 he attended West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1971. Residing in New Jersey for most of his adult life before retiring in Virginia, Merrill enjoyed a career as a Vice President of numerous banks and was also a small business owner of an auto parts store.
Merrill spent his summers as a youth in Saratoga Springs, New York as his father was an owner of thoroughbred horses which raced at the Saratoga Race Course. This sparked a passion of his own in Merrill and, over the course of two decades, he owned and bred his own thoroughbred racehorses who raced in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. He loved having Breeders Cup parties at his home with his friends. Merrill had a passion for traveling and attending concerts which his two daughters, Kim and Ali, also inherited from him. He thoroughly enjoyed spending winters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his wife, Barbara. Merrill adored his grandchildren and took much pleasure in attending their sporting events, dance recitals, play performances, and graduations. He also was a lover of his four-legged family members having many cats and dogs over the years. Merrill was an avid golfer and was a fan of the New York Jets, the New York Mets, and, especially, the sporting teams of West Virginia University.

Merrill is survived by his wife, Barbara Primiano-Howe of Greenbackville, Virginia, his daughters, Kimberly (David) Motyka of Brick, New Jersey, and Alison (Todd) Gadoua of Snow Hill, Maryland as well as his grandchildren, Nicole Cutti, Ty Cutti, Haley Cook, Kayla Cook, Carly Motyka, and Mackenzie Motyka. Merrill is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Benjamin (Rosemary) Primiano and Robert (Carolyn) Primiano as well as his two nieces-in-law, Robin (Glenn) Motusesky and Joann Primiano.
Along with his parents, Merrill was predeceased by his stepson, Ernest Leves, Jr.
A memorial celebration will take place on June 17, 2023, at 3:00 pm at Salyer Funeral Home on Chincoteague Island, VA with Rev. Enright officiating. Food and fellowship will follow at Merrill’s home in Greenbackville, Virginia. Interment will be at Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, New York on
June 19, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to: The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, https://pdjf.org; The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, www.trfinc.org; or The American Diabetes Association, https://diabetes.org.
Online condolences can be given at www.salyerfh.com. Services entrusted to Salyer Funeral Home, Inc. Chincoteague Island, Va. 
  

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