Thomas Rowe Howell

Thomas Rowe Howell, age 93, died peacefully on December 5, 2017 after living a long and fulfilling life. He loved his family, his friends and his Lord, and will be greatly missed by all who were blessed by his warmth and smile.

Tom was born on July 28, 1924, in the Jonathan Creek community near Waynesville, North Carolina. He spent his early years there, moving with the family to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 1933. He graduated from Pi Beta Phi High School there in 1942, and enrolled at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. After completing one year of college studies, he enlisted in the Navy in July 1943. He served as a radio technician, second class, on the troop transport LSM 224 in the Pacific Theater until the end of World War II, being discharged in March 1946. After the war he returned to Tennessee Tech and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950.

He began his career at TVA, and then spent 34 years as an electrical engineer with the Knoxville Utilities Board, retiring in March 1990. One of the many projects he oversaw was the removal and rerouting of power lines during construction for the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville.

Tom met his future wife Velma Marie Riley in the Belles and Bachelors Sunday School class at Church Street United Methodist Church, and they married there September 2, 1961. They were both long time active members of the church and the Murphy Builders Sunday School class. Tom served on the church's Property Committee and Administrative Board, and he and Velma loved their lunch bunch and trips with their friends around the country and the world. Tom was especially glad to visit St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland and the Panama Canal, where his father had worked many years earlier.

Tom enjoyed taking care of their home and yard, planning family outings and camping trips, playing golf, and trout fishing in the Smokies. His love of his mountain homeland was shared by his family through many hikes and weekend campouts. His three daughters have fond memories of their extended camping trips to forty states, and growing up playing sports with and being coached by their Dad.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years Velma, his parents Rowe Bays Howell and Jessie Leatherwood Howell, sister Mary Ellen Howell, and brother Harry Howell. He is survived by brother Joe Howell (wife Betty) of Knoxville and sister Anne Mankin of Oak Ridge; daughters Angela Chramer (husband Scott) of Pelham, AL, Susan Grant (husband Chris) of Stow, OH, and Lisa Davis (husband Steve) and beloved grandson Ben Davis, all of Knoxville, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Tom was a resident of Shannondale Healthcare Center for the last five years, and his family thanks the staff for their loving care.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, December 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Church Street United Methodist Church, after which the family will receive friends in the Church Life Center. The graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Berry Highland Memorial Park, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. Memorials may be made to the Memorial Fund at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN 37902, or Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 3099 Winfield Dunn Pkwy. #2, Kodak, TN 37764. Memories of Tom may be shared online at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com.