HAMPTON — Richard S. Howard, 85, most recently a resident of Hampton, died Thursday, July 16, 2009, in Hampton, after a brief illness.He was born Nov. 6, 1923, in Hanover, to the late Maurice and Lillian Howard.Mr. Howard grew up in Lebanon and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1941. Richard, along with his mirror twin, Roger, gained considerable prominence in high school athletics, with the pair starring on the football and baseball fields and, particularly, on the ski slope. Richard won a number of downhill and slalom races and was recognized as one of New Hampshire's premier ski jumpers.In 1942, after one year at UNH, Richard joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving throughout World War II as a dental technician. After the war, Richard returned to UNH and earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology. He married Beverly Barton of Durham in 1949 and they made their home in Durham and the surrounding area for the next 35 years. During this time, Richard owned and operated Strafford Dental Laboratory in Dover, which he sold in 1984. He and Beverly retired to Florida and returned to New Hampshire in 1991 following the birth of the first of their five granddaughters. The couple lived in Concord and Durham until Beverly's death in 2001. Richard moved from Durham to Hampton in 2007.Richard is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Buck, her husband, Dennis, and their daughters, Nicole and Jayme of Nottingham; his son, Keith Howard and his three daughters, Rebecca, Meredith and Elizabeth of Nashua; his brother, Wesley Howard of Plymouth and his sister, Phyllis Conner of Largo, Fla. He was predeceased by his wife, Beverly, and his twin brother, Roger.A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, in the Durham Cemetery. A celebration of his life will follow at 2 p.m. at the home of Jennifer and Dennis Buck. In lieu of flowers, Richard's family asks that donations be made in his name to a charity of one's choice. Assistance with arrangements was by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton. An online guest book may be signed at www.RemickGendron.com.Visit the online guest book at www.fosters.com/obits