Eathel Dean Howard

She was born June 26, 1925 in Sherrills Ford to the late Jim Frank White and Lois Jackson Robinson White and lived in the Sherrills Ford area all of her life. Eathel was very involved in the community and Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and serving the fellow members of the church and their missions. She loved gardening, reading, cooking, and traveling- especially to the family condo at the beach. Eathel was the true matriarch of her family and her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were her greatest joy and purpose in life.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Stowe Howard; brother, Bill White; and special friend, Harriett Maxine Easter.

Survivors include her sons, Richard Franklin Howard and wife, Carol Ann Howard of Denver, NC, and Douglas Stowe Howard and wife, Donna Potts Howard of Terrell; daughter, Donna Howard Helderman and husband, Michael Lee Helderman of Newton; grandchildren, Leslie Howard Auton and husband, Shane, of Denver, NC, Natalie Howard Gabriel and husband, Bradley, of Denver, NC, Lori Helderman Edwards and husband, Frank, of Maiden, Lindsay Mackie Howard of Mooresville, Curtis Lee Helderman and wife, Tamara, of Newton, Kyle Michael Helderman of Charlotte, Scott Douglas Howard of Maiden, and Laura Howard Burgess and husband, Micah, of Huntersville; great grandchildren, Jackson Stowe Gabriel, Chase Lee Helderman, Karley Ann Gabriel, Richard Cole Helderman, Ethan Franklin Edwards, Tyler Hobson Edwards, Dominic Logan Howard, Ashlynn Jolee Edwards, and step great grandson, Bradley Taylor Gabriel; sister, Linda W. Lineberger and husband, Edsel; and special friends of the family, Richard Lynch and wife, Jean, Richard Hendrickson and wife, Judy, and the entire Howard’s Softball Family.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in Sherrills Ford, NC. Reverend Ken Curtis, Reverend Linda Zastovnik, and Reverend Grady Barringer will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends following the graveside service in the Christian Life Center of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church: 4136 Mount Pleasant Road, Sherrills Ford, NC, 28673, or Catawba Regional Hospice: 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.