Gordon Kenneth Howell Sr., 96, of Deer Park Lake Road, Spruce Pine, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine.
He was born Aug. 11, 1923, in Rebels Creek, to Arthur and Mamie Boone Howell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Ernest, Charles and Lloyd Howell; three sisters, Dorothy Norman, Margie Carver and Myrtle Walker; and one granddaughter, Samantha Howell.
He was a World War II veteran, a member of the 398th Engineers and he served in the European theater.
He loved camping, fishing and working in his woodworking shop. He worked in the hosiery manufacturing business for 40 years, beginning as a knitter and retiring as Vice President of Research and Development for Hampshire Hosiery.
Visitation was 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in the Chapel of Webb Funeral Home in Spruce Pine, with the funeral to following at 2 p.m. The Rev. Larry Greene officiated the service and music was performed by Kim Hoyle. Interment was in the Rebels Creek cemetery. All were welcomed to attend and celebrate Gordon’s life.
He is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Wilma Hoyle Howell; two sons, Gordon Kenneth Jr., and wife, Jeanne, of Chapel Hill, and Lloyd Martin, and wife, Lynn, of Church Hill, Tennessee; one daughter, Janice Karen, of the home; two brothers, Roy Howell, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Ben Ray Howell, and wife, Pat, of Little River, South Carolina; one sister, Shelby Jean McMahan, and husband, Mac, of Asheville; and several nieces and nephews.
Instead of flowers, please send donations to Hospice and Home Care Of the Blue Ridge, 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (www.hospiceblueridge.com/make-a-contribution).
The family would like to thank all the hospice workers that were so good with Gordon, especially his primary caregivers, Katy Grindstaff and Mike Collis, and give a special thank you to a neighbor, Chasity Miller, for all her help.
Words of comfort may be emailed to the family by going to www.webbfh.com, selecting Gordon Howell’s name and signing his guestbook. Webb Funeral Home of Spruce Pine is honored to be assisting the Howell family. Mr. Howell’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook.
Mitchell News-Journal • Dec. 18, 2019