Oleta White Howard

Oleta Gaynelle White Howard was born in Kingsport, TN on November 10, 1921 and passed away on November 24, 2024 in Huntsville, AL at the age of 103. As a young woman, she attended business school in Missouri and returned to Kingsport to work at Holston Ordinance and then Tennessee Eastman. She and her husband, Charles, were married in 1953 in Kingsport, TN where Charles finished a bachelor of science in chemistry. They moved with the Atomic Energy Commission from Oak Ridge, TN, to Hattiesburg, MS, and then to Huntsville in 1965 to work for NASA and then with the Army Missile Command. Oleta and Charles had three sons, Richard Winston, born in 1954, Thomas Alexander, born in 1959, and Timothy Mitchell, born in 1961.

Oleta and Charles were actively involved at Hillwood Baptist Church. Oleta was an avid reader, often reading a book a day. She had countless friends and hobbies and enjoyed the Broadway Theater League.

Oleta was preceded in death by her husband, her brother James White, her sisters Mary Barker, Phyllis Cannon, and Hilda Armstrong and a grandson, Benjamin Howard.

Oleta is survived by her three sons and their wives, Betty, Angela, and Cindy, 8 grandchildren, Tom Howard, Caitlin Shepard (Hunt), Mariel Miller (Joshua), Truman Howard, Betsy Germano (James), Sally Ham (Michael), Charles Howard (Emily),Samuel Howard and 9 great-grandchildren.

The family is grateful for the support of the staff at Redstone Village for all their love, kindness, and care for the last few years.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the South Huntsville Public Library.

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A visitation for Oleta will be held Wednesday, November 27, 2024 from 11:00am to 12:00pm at Valhalla Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Rd NE, Huntsville, Alabama 35811, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 12:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens in the Garden of Valor.