Janice Howard

Janice Robertson Howard, long time resident of Abilene passed away Friday February 4, 2011 of natural causes in Dallas, Texas. Janice was born June 1, 1924 to Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Robertson of Ralls, Texas. In 1934 the family moved as Mr. Robertson relocated his Oliver Farm Machinery dealership to Abilene. Janice attended and graduated from Abilene High School in 1941 and attended Hardin-Simmons University earning a Bachelors of Science in 1944. She was one of the HSU Cowgirls and a Six White Horse Rider helping to organize the first HSU Rodeo. She married Henry (Hank) Leon DuPape in 1953 and they had one son, James Randal DuPape in 1954. In 1955 she began working with the Girl Scouts and in 1956 became Executive Director of the Bluebonnet Council in Waco. While there she would oversee the purchase and development of Camp Kachina, a beautiful 344 acre site on the shores of Lake Belton. The camp was officially dedicated in 1960 and the first campers attended later that year. In 1961 the directorship was offered to her in Abilene and she moved closer to family and married James Ray Howard. They had one son Jay Robertson Howard. She left the Girl Scouts in 1967 and began her Masters of Education at Abilene Christian College. She taught at HSU for six years during and after she completed her degree in 1970. In 1973 she began teaching at Mc Murry College as a professor retiring in 1982 to pursue other opportunities.

Janice has been active in St. Paul United Methodist Church where she worked with “The Pathfinders” group and sang in the choir for many years. She also was active in the Abilene Woman’s Club and the HSU alumni.

She has been preceded in death by her husband, Henry DuPape in 1954 father, A.B. Robertson in 1974, mother, Wilma Robertson in 1994 and her husband, James Howard in 1997. She is survived by her two sons J. Randal DuPape and wife, Karen of Carrollton and Jay Howard and wife, Charlotte of Dalhart. She is also survived by five grandchildren; Leisha Bullard and husband, John of Arlington, Erin Carter of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Jeremy Howard of Charlotte, North Carolina, Drew Howard of Texline and Lynzi Howard of Dalhart. She also has six step grandchildren, Michael Gard and wife, Michelle, Bradley Gard of Texline, Lauren Sadowsky and husband, Paul of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rebecca Evans and husband, Chris Wood of Addison, Katie Evans of Carrollton and Brianna Radford of Borger. She also has two great grandsons Bryson Bullard and Landon Gard.

Visitation will be held at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St., Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. Services will be held Friday February 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church at 5 th and Beech in Abilene. The family suggest memorials be made to either St. Paul United Methodist Church or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001.