You identified Reuben was in Hood River in 1918, so I'm assuming you have access to Ancestry.com, or already have his World War I Draft Registration Card (from the images online).

But, let me add some questions/comments from this card and other data:

The WWI Draft Registration Card shows Reuben Garfield Howard was born on February 20, 1882, and was 36 years of age. (I find the actual year on these cards off by one year about 50 percent of the time). Spouse Bertha May Howard.

The 1910 Census for Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky. Enumerated May 1910.
On the same census page is the couples/families of Bud/Josie; Lawrence/Jane, Sylvester/Alverta, William and Sarah (Sarah being the mother age 60, mother of 7, 6 living. and:
-Reuben, age 28, born in Kentucky to father born in Tennessee, mother in Kentucky
-Bertha age 17 (1892/93), married less than one year, no children
The difference in age is 11 years on this census, enumerated 5/1910

The 1920 Census for Bend, Deschutes Co, OR
Reben (As written on the census) is 39 not 29. That matches the age difference from the 1910 census, given the dates of enumeration. This census was enumerated on 13/14 January 1920. It appears he was a laborer, in "sewers for city"
Bertha 26 (1893/94)
John W, age 8 (1911/1912), born in Kentucky
Loretta, 3 3/12, born about September 1916 based on enumeration in January, born in Oregon.
--Based on the enumeration dates of the 1910 and 1920, Bertha appears to have been born between January and May 1993)

The Kentucky Birth Index 1911-1999 has a John W. Howard born 10 March 1911 to Bertha Webster (Maiden name) in Ohio County.

1930. The person found in Frenchglen, Harney County was listed as "JOHN", not "Jack", both parents born in Kentucky.

The Social Security Death Index shows a John W. Howard, born 10 March 1911 (matches Kentucky Birth Index), died 8 January 1973. This index does not identify where he died. His Social Security Number was 541-14-3000, a number beginning with 541 was issued in Oregon. You can obtain an exact image of his application for his SSN from the Social Security Administration. This image will show his parents, his address upon application, his type of employment, etc.
--This "somewhat" proves John was in Washington from the initial registration of Social Security to a point before 1951 that John was in Oregon. He may have applied for his SSN in the mid-forties, then moved, or lived in Oregon to at least

The World War II Army Enlistments database shows a John W. Howard, born 1911 (but in Kansas), living in Deschutes, Oregon, enlisted on 19 August 1942 in Sacramento, CA. He had Grammar school education, a farm hand, single without dependents, 67 inches in height, 138 pounds.
--This "appears" to be the correct person; BUT there is NO PROOF this person is the same as being searched.

A family tree of Chrishill7759, living in New Jersey, has pictures of Howard members, to include the tombstone of Bud Howard. He is buried in the Rosehill Cemetery, Piedmont, South Carolina. He was Elisha Shadrack Howard, born 1864, died 1934 in Greenville County, South Carolina. She identified "Ruben Garfield", "Bertha Webster", "John W", by date of birth, but no date of death or other information. She identified the sister as "Lorktta Howard", born 1916, no further information. She "might" have more information, just not posted online. In that regard, I sent a message through the service for her to read this thread.

I can't find anything more on John.

Ron Bestrom