Howard A. Fife, 97, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2017. He was born July 29, 1920 in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of the late Howard D. and Ruby M. (Heathcote) Fife. Educated in the West Springfield schools he graduated in 1938 and from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Amherst in 1942.  He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a Power Turret/Gunsight Specialist and was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Returning to the West Springfield Park & Playgrounds Department he served 43 years including 18 years as foreman and 16 years as Director of the Parks & Recreation Department. He was a Town Meeting member for many years and was  Secretary of the initial Conservation Committee. Howard served as the first Co-Chair of the original Arts Council and was founder and charter member of the W.S. Garden Club.  He was also the founder and President of the Pioneer Valley Park & Recreation Association. Upon retiring in 1985 he worked part time at the Big Y Food Stores for 18 years. Howard was a member of the W.S. Grange # 147 for 71 years, as well as a member of the Pioneer Valley Pomona #32, the Massachusetts State Grange, and the National Grange. He served as Chairmen of the State Grange Conservation Committee, the Mass. State Grange Fair, the Membership Committee, and Trustee & Manager of the New England Grange Building at the Big E. He was a member of the West Springfield United Methodist Church. Married for 70 years to M. Helen Henderson, who passed away in 2006, he leaves three children. Howard A. Jr. and his wife Mary A, (Fillion) of Palmer, MA., Suzanne H. Ward and her husband Thomas of  Douglas, MA., Virginia E. Gibbons and her husband Arthur of Salem, AL. and 9 grandchildren. He is also survived by sister Dorothy Perreault, of Agawam. He was predeceased by his brothers Dudley, Frederick and Edwin and sister Thelma. The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 am at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home followed by burial with Military Honors in Paucatuck Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday 4:00 to 7:00 pm. For more information please go to curranjones.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the W. Springfield Garden Club, 125 N. Boulevard St., W. Springfield, MA 01089 or to the W. Springfield Methodist Church, 800 Amostown Rd., W. Springfield, MA 01089.