PORTSMOUTH—Ernest "Rabbit" Howard went to Heaven on December 8th, 2025, while surrounded by his family, who were holding his hand tight. He was born in Portsmouth, VA on January 22, 1931. Coach Howard was a living legend and a mentor to countless people throughout his life.

Howard achieved too many accolades to list them all, but a few of them that he was most proud of were: State Runner-Up in basketball with Portsmouth Catholic in 1962; he also received Virginia Catholic Coach of the year award that same year. His golf teams won over 300 matches in 23 years, with his Churchland team winning the Eastern District Tournament Championship from 1963-1967. Coach Howard's teams also won the Eastern Regional Tournament from 1964-1967. Overall, Coach Howard's basketball teams compiled a 240-140 record at Portsmouth Catholic, Churchland, and Western Branch High Schools. He was voted Coach of the Year by the Virginia Pilot in 1982 and was selected as Sportsman of the Year by the Portsmouth Sports Club in 1983.

Coach Howard coached in the "PIT" Portsmouth Invitational, for 30 years, winning the tournament twice, and finishing runner-up multiple times. He never received a technical foul he deserved, and no one exemplified the benefits of hard work and a winning mind set more than Coach Howard.

He was a graduate of Hargrave Military Academy and a Veteran of WW2; he received his undergraduate degree from Richmond Polytechnic Institute, and his Masters degree from Old Dominion University. Rabbit was a self-made man who went from living in poverty as a child growing up in Newtown Portsmouth, to growing a family with his beloved wife, Mable, and creating a legacy that will carry on for years. Coach loved his Washington Redskins, his VT Hokie football team, and his Duke Blue Devil basketball teams. He considered his players to be family, and he always played to win, never accepting 2nd place.

Howard was predeceased by his wife, Mable B. Howard.  He is survived by his two loving daughters, Karen H. Cooper, and Laura Beth Dobson; Laura Beth's husband, John Dobson, who was more son than son-in-law to Coach; three grandchildren, George W. Cooper III (Trey), Brooke Cooper-Morris, and Jessica Dobson; four great-grandchildren, Avery Sterling Bray, Jaxson Ernest Cooper, Reid Benson Cooper, and Easton William Cooper.  Out of all his wins on the court and field it is his family that gave him the greatest satisfaction.

There will be a Celebration of Life from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on January 24, 2026 at the Obici House at Sleepy Hole Golf Course, 4700 Sleepy Hole Rd., Suffolk.

"I did it my way" was more than a line in a Frank Sinatra song to Coach Howard, or "Idaddy" as his grandchildren called him. It was the way Coach lived his life. No one lived life better than Coach Howard. The family ask that any donations be made to the Rabbit Howard Endowment Fund, through the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation . To date, Coach Howard's endowment has raised over $200,000 for Student Athlete's at his beloved Churchland and Western Branch High Schools. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.