Jeanne Ruth Marshall Howard

Mrs. Howard lived in Evansville her entire life with the exception of a brief time living in Mobile, AL and Southern Texas. As a newlywed, she traveled with her husband, Bobby Howard, to the Southern US during the start up of the first of many construction and home improvement family owned businesses.

Mrs. Howard was a graduate of Bosse High School (Class of 1942) and Lockyear Business School. Her career included work as a legal assistant before she became a housewife raising her two sons, Robert and Anthony. She spent several years working in the food service department with Deaconess Hospital before becoming a nanny for a select group of families in Evansville. Her years as a nanny were her most favorite and rewarding.

She was a friend and second mother to many. Our home was open to everyone and her laughter and kind spirit touched us all.

Mrs. Howard was a dedicated fan of NBA basketball for the past 32 years – originating with her favorite basketball player, Larry Bird. Her favorite basketball coach remains Coach Bobby Knight.

She is survived by her son, Robert Howard and loving daughter-in-law, Sara Harrison Howard, residing in Nyon, Switzerland and only grandchild, Anthony Howard, a second year student of Thomas Cooley Law School in Grand Rapids, MI. She is also survived by her favorite pet – friend, Mr. Fritter, Cairn Terrier, who is kept by his owners in Switzerland; sister, Betty Gardner; nephews, Bill Gardner and Fred Howard; sister-in-law, Mary Jane Rhodes; and nieces, Karyn Howard, Carol Compton and Sherri Howard, all of Evansville.

Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Howard, in 1965; her father, James “Bud” Marshall, in 1965; her youngest son, Anthony Howard, in 1981; her mother, Edna Marshall, in 2002; and step-father, Wilbur Garman, in 2003.

We celebrate her life and will miss her deeply but find solace in knowing that she accepted Christ as her lord and savior.

Services will be 1:00 PM Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Rev. Jeff Stratton, with burial in Park Lawn Cemetery. Friends may visit Saturday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers to instead please make contributions to the Evansville Christian Life Center.