John was born July 11, 1942 in Greenville, Mississippi, to the late Annie Mae & Richard Chauncey Howe. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1961. He attended Mississippi Delta Junior College where he played football and met his wife, a majorette for the band, of 57 years Brenda Grimsley Howe. John then joined the Army and after his service he graduated from Memphis State University with a bachelors degree in Business Administration.
Mr. Howe loved the outdoors. His kids remember camping and fishing trips to Arkansas. He loved to read the newspaper, Sudoku puzzles, politics and playing cards. He also loved to sail and was a member of the Delta Sailing Association at Arkabutla Lake.
John was a longtime member of the Church of Christ, a member of Germantown Church of Christ upon his death.
Mr. Howe is survived by his two children Gwendolen (Bayless) Wheeler of Germantown, Tennessee and John C. (Julie) Howe, Jr. of Bartlett, Tennessee; two sisters Ruth (Bert) Woods & Sarah Auerswald; brother Joe (Wilma) Howe; and two grandchildren Allison & Michael Wheeler.
Family and friends will gather on Thursday, December 2, from nine o'clock in the morning until funeral services begin at ten o'clock all at Collierville Funeral Home, 534 W. Poplar Avenue, Collierville, TN 38017. A graveside service will follow at Lehrton Cemetery, 123 Cemetery Road, Ruleville, Mississippi around 2:30 that same afternoon. Mr. Dave Phillips of the Germantown Church of Christ will lead the services of the day.
Memorials in John's name may be offered to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Germantown Church of Christ.
Fond memories, directions and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colliervillefuneral.com for the Howe family.
