Charles Orval Howard

Funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Collier-Butler Funeral Home for Charles Orval Howard, 93, of Southside, who died Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Rev. Lloyd “Red” Watkins will officiate. Burial be at Rainbow Memorial Gardens. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Jean Miller Howard who died October 31, 2006; parents, Charles S. and Lula Howard, Glencoe; brother, Thomas L. Howard, Glencoe; and sister, Frances Todd, Tyler, Texas.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in- law, Cathy Jean Howard Roden and Donnie Ray Roden of Glencoe; son and daughter-in-law, Steven Charles Howard and Janis Lynn Morgan Howard, Southside; grandchildren and spouses, Christopher Duane Roden, Glencoe; Crystal Dawn Roden Anderson and Cassidy Anderson, Gulfport, MS; Kevin Charles Roden and Anna Roden, Gadsden; Matthew Michael Howard, Southside; and Nicholas Sean Howard and Caitlin Howard, Auburn; great-grandchildren, Ayden and Charlie Roden; sister, Mary Lou Hamrick, Glencoe; sister and brother-in-law, Imogene and W.O. (Skeet) Martin, Glencoe; sister-in-law, Jerrie Howard, Glencoe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Nephew, Rodney Martin will serve as pallbearer, along with grandchildren and other immediate family members.

Charles was a member of First Baptist Church of Glencoe. For several years he and his wife, Nancy, were involved with volunteer work with the Senior Outreach Program in Glencoe. Charles was member of VFW Post 10408 in Glencoe and for years had been involved in putting up the crosses and flags along the median of U.S. 431 in Glencoe on patriotic holidays. He was employed as machinist at Republic Steel for 42 years, until his retirement in 1983.

Charles served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for action with the 7th Armored Division in Germany in March 1945. He received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat in Germany on March 27, 1945. In 2007, he was inducted into Patriot’s Hall of Honor at the annual meeting of Gadsden-Etowah Patriots Association.

Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-bulter.com.