He was son of the late Robert W. Custance, and the late Grace M. Packard (Custance) Graves. He was born in Cambridge MA on March 11, 1943 and grew up in Lexington, Newton, and Burlington, MA.

In April 1961 of his senior year of high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Ft. Hood, Texas where he was a wheel mechanic. His last assignment was to Co. A, 720th Military Police Battalion. While in the service Howard earned his GED.

Upon returning to civilian life he went back to Burlington High School and repeated his senior year, graduating with the class of 1964. He worked for the family business and several other contractors as a carpenter/cabinet maker. In the next faze of his life he went to Fitchburg State College where he earned his Vocational Teacher's Certificate. He taught Carpentry at Nasohba Regional Vocational Technical High School in Westford, MA until Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Lexington, MA opened in 1975 and he became the head of the Building Trades Department. While teaching he went to Canada to study Energy Efficient Houses. In 1986 he retired from teaching and went back to construction, with several different contractors and earning his Construction Supervisor's License.

Howard is survived by his wife of 45 years, Phyllis (Harvey) Custance of Boxborough, MA, his daughter, Amy E. Custance and husband Paul Hamilton, of West Newbury, Ma, his son, Joel D. Custance and wife Laura of Burlington, MA. He is also survived by three stepchildren, Keith J. Nelms (Annamaria), Karen Gamber (Harry) and Lisa Williams (Blake). His brothers and sisters, Arthur Graves (Michan), Hazel Lavallee, Emery Graves, Dana Custance (Dorothy), Janet LaFond (David), Steven Custance, Pamela Vaughan (Walter).

13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren also survive him.

A sister-in-law Ruth Graves predeceased him in 1998, his former wife, Jane (Enos) Custance in 1980, a stepson James Nelms in 2007, his stepmother Ruth Custance in 2018, his brother Phillip Custance in 2023, and his sister-in-law, Gail Custance in 2024.

Howard loved the outdoors whether boating, fishing or hiking thru the woods as the "Fox" for the Old Northbridge Hounds, Concord, MA.

He will be fondly remembered as a "Gentle Giant" and a good friend to many.

Services will be private.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.