Virginia Converse Howells

HOWELLS, Virginia Converse, of Bourne, passed away in her 96th year. She was born in Cambridge, MA. She was predeceased by Robert Gore Howells, her husband of more than 60 years, and leaves two grandchildren, Andrew A. Howells and Isabella O. Howells of East Sandwich, MA. She was pre-deceased by two sons, Donald Robert and Douglas Steven. She was the daughter of Herbert L. and Isabel Ware Converse, of Arlington, MA. A graduate of Arlington High School, Virginia graduated from Tufts University in 1949.

Jinny often reminisced about growing up in Arlington Heights in the family’s “14 room house” which served as a magnet to neighborhood kids, providing a rich childhood of friendships and experiences that she carried with her for her entire life. Jinny worked for a year after high school, then enrolled at Tufts University, where she graduated after 3 years.

Jinny met her future husband, Robert Howells, on a blind date on New Year’s Eve, 1948, but momentum in their relationship did not pick up until more than 3 years later. They were married in 1953. In 1959 they had their first son, Donald Robert, who died in infancy. Douglas Steven was born in 1961. During Doug’s growing up years, Jinny was primarily at home raising him. The family lived in Needham, Hamilton and Wenham during these years; and Jinny also worked at the clothing retailer Johnny Appleseed’s. The family then moved to Stratham, NH, and Jinny worked for several years for Measured Progress, a company that produces scholastic standardized tests.

Doug passed away in 1999 and subsequently, Bob and Jinny moved to the Cape to be near their two grandchildren, Andrew and Isabella. Jinny lived there until Bob passed in 2016. After that, Jinny moved to western Massachusetts, residing in assisted living facilities in the Springfield area. Until her last year, Jinny was a prodigious cross-word puzzler, able to effortlessly fill out books of puzzles completely, cover to cover.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 12:30 pm at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd., BOURNE, MA. Visitation will be prior starting at 12:00pm. Interment to follow, in Sandwich Town Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in her memory, may be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or www.cancer.org. Arrangements under the direction of Nickerson~Bourne Funeral Home, Bourne, MA.