Howard K. VanScoter

Howard K. VanScoter Physics Teacher

Eldred, PA- Howard (Howie, Howdy) VanScoter, 80, of Barden Brook Road, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2024, at his home.

Born July 29, 1943, in Olean, he was the son of Walter and Mabel (Bashline) VanScoter and Ralph Ours. On August 28, 1971, he married Bonnie Buttles in Duanesburg.

Howie was a 1961 graduate of Otto-Eldred Junior Senior High School and a 1966 graduate Mansfield State College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  He did graduate studies at SUNY Oswego and St. Bonaventure University.

He began his teaching career at Jasper Central School from 1966 to 1970 where he taught all sciences. He then became an Olean High School teacher where he taught Physics Regents and occasionally other sciences. He was the co-recipient of the first annual “Outstanding Science Teacher Award” presented by Alcas Cutlery Corporation in 1989.  Also in 1989, he was selected by the New York State Education Department to be a Regional Physics Mentor and served for five years. Following retirement at Olean High School, he taught Physics at Bradford High School from 2001 to 2003. In 2018, he was inducted into the Olean City School District Wall of Honor.

For many years, he raised American Black and Tan Coonhounds and one of his dogs, Scooter’s McQuire (Mac), was named the 1980 National Grand Champion Black and Tan Coonhound. Additionally, Mac was featured in a Dad’s Dog Food commercial later that year. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He was a lifetime member of the Eldred Conservation Club and a lifetime member of the Eldred Boro Fire Department. In 2014, Howie became an Assistant Coach of the O-E Bird Dawgs Trap Team.

Howie is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and his beloved black lab, Coal. He is also survived by four brothers, Richard (Sue) Ours of Eldred, Randy (Tina) Ours of Eldred, Lonnie Ours of Eldred, and Rick (Dorothy) Ours of Olean; three sisters, Judy (Joe) Warnick of Eldred, Debra (Harold) Baker of Eldred, and Claudia (Raymond) Anthony of Troy, NC; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters Patty Jane Ours and Sandra (Lewis) Green both of Eldred.

Friends and family will be received from 11a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Saturday (April 13, 2024) at Guenther Funeral Home, Inc. 1303 East State St, Olean. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Pastor Rick Price will officiate. Burial to follow in Lamphier Cemetery, Eldred. PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Eldred Conservation Club, 356 Whitetail Rd, P.O. Box 511, Eldred, PA 16731 or the Olean High School Library 410 West Sullivan Street, Olean, NY 14760.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com