Howard Lee Arden

COLUMBIA Howard Lee Arden, SGM, (U.S. Army, Retired), 82, passed away Thursday, July 16, 2015. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2015, at First Christian Church, with burial with full military honors following at 1:00 p.m. in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Dunbar Funeral Home Northeast Chapel is assisting the family. Born in Abingdon, Va., he was a son of the late Milton James and Margaret Gaillher Arden. SGM Arden retired from the United States Army after proudly serving in the Vietnam War and Korean Conflict. While in the U.S. Army, he attended Leadership School, Wheel Vehicle Mechanic School, Non-Commissioned Officers School, Chemical Biological School, Drill Sergeant School and Air Ground Operation School. He was a member of the American Legion Post 6. He received an Associate’s Degree from Midlands Technical College in Horticulture. He was a member of the Master Gardner’s Association and owner of Whispering Oaks Nursery. In later years he served as Deputy Warden at the Department of Corrections in SHOCK Incarceration. Surviving are his daughter, Pamela Arden Plexico and husband, Kevin L of Georgetown, SC; son, Mark Taylor Arden and wife, Amy Y. of Columbia; grandchildren, Ashley L. Plexico, Bradley K. Plexico, Kathryn E. Arden, Liana V. Arden, Mark Taylor Arden II and stepgrandchildren, Harrison and Hayden Gowland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved wife of fifty seven years, Mollie Yates Arden. Memorial may be made to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 2062 N. Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC 29204.