Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 21, 2026

Dr. Cleve Wilson Howard, 85, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on October 21, 2026.

Dr. Howard was born on August 14, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Winnifred Wilson Howard and Donald Osgood Howard. Cleve grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and attended Kansas University (KU) for both his undergraduate studies and medical school. He met his late wife, Dr. Joanne Morrison Howard, while attending medical school at KU. They married in June 1966.

Shortly after their marriage, Dr. Howard secured a medical residency in the Air Force, while his wife continued her career in medicine as a professor in Louisville, Kentucky. While in Louisville, the Howards adopted a son and had a second child. In 1974, the family moved to Homestead Air Force Base in South Florida. From there, they relocated to Miami, where Dr. Joanne Howard taught at the University of Miami Medical School for 30 years, and Dr. Cleve Howard secured a fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

His fellowship led him to specialize in pediatric ophthalmology and join a local practice, which he helped grow into a thriving center serving patients throughout South Florida and Latin America. Over the years, he saved or improved the sight of countless children, many of whom continued to reach out each year to thank him.

Cleve fell in love with South Florida’s waters, spending countless happy hours boating and fishing on Biscayne Bay and in the Everglades. An avid cyclist, he often rode 100 miles or more, and his love of adventure extended to his prized Corvettes. After retiring and moving to Charlotte, he found new cycling companions and routes, along with a favorite driving destination on the winding roads of the Tail of the Dragon.

Retirement in Charlotte brought Cleve closer to his three grandchildren while allowing him to continue caring for patients through Lions Eye Services. He shared his love of South Florida with his grandchildren on fishing trips and filled their time together with remote-controlled cars, boats, planes, and helicopters. The bonus room above his garage became home to an elaborate model railroad, where they built tracks winding through miniature cities and countryside.

An Eagle Scout, Cleve also shared his love of scouting with his grandsons, attending weekly Cub Scout meetings, joining overnight trips, and helping with holiday sales. At home, his office candy jars were always ready for visitors; in his view, sweets were best enjoyed by the handful. Through the patients he cared for, the adventures he shared, the trains he built, and the candy he passed around, he leaves a legacy of generosity and cherished memories.

Dr. Cleve Howard is survived by his two sons, Nathan (Andrea) and Andrew; his three grandchildren, Dane, Max, and Zoe; and his two brothers, Dale and Malin Howard. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dr. Joanne Morrison Howard.

A memorial service for Dr. Cleve Howard will be held at Myers Park United Methodist Church on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The service will be live-streamed. https://myersparkumc.org/worship/memorials-funerals/

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the staff at The Sharon at SouthPark, 5100 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210, (704) 553-1670 https://thesharon.org/; or to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Dr. Howard’s honor, (305) 326-6190, https://umiamihealth.org/en/bascom-palmer-eye-institute https://umiamihealth.org/en/bascom-palmer-eye-institute.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204, (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.