John Northway Howell Sr.'s Obituary
Rev. Dr. John Northway Howell Sr., 88, of Grand Bay, Alabama, passed away on Saturday November 8, 2014. He was born on May 8, 1926 to Arthur and Bertha Howell in Knightsville, Indiana the seventh of eight sons. He graduated from high school in Flora, IN and entered the U.S. Army in 1944 during World War II. He trained as a medic and during the war met his future wife Ruth Creel. They were married on November 28, 1946 in Indiana whereupon he began college at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. He graduated in 1950 and began seminary at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. During his education to prepare for the Methodist ministry he was appointed to churches in Indiana as a student pastor. He followed in his father’s footsteps who served as a Methodist pastor for 53 years. He was one of six of the eight brothers to serve as a pastor. He was ordained in 1953 and began serving as a United Methodist pastor in Michigan until 1987. In retirement he served at the Grand Bay United Methodist Church as a pastor emeritus. During his ministry he did mission work in the Dominican Republic and served for many years as head of the Chaplains Advisory Committee of the Michigan Department of Corrections. For his work in Michigan prisons he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Adrian College. He dedicated his life to the church and touched many lives during his ministry. He also developed a love of classical music and history particularly the Civil War. He belonged to the Civil War Roundtable club that met at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI and would speak on Civil War history to various groups and schools. In retirement he loved working in his yard planting and gardening. He leaves behind his wife Ruth, son Stephen and his wife Christine, son John Jr. and his wife Suzanne, and three grandchildren, Kristen, Andrew, and Kerry. There are five great-grandchildren. A special thanks is given to Diann and Alvin Creal, Jason Creal and the family; also, the Veterans Administration Home-Based Primary Care program, Springhill Home Health and Hospice, and Legacy Group Healthcare. A funeral service will be held on Friday November 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. at Serenity Funeral Home 8691 Old Pascagoula Rd. Mobile, AL 36582; visitation at the funeral home will be Thursday November 13, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Friday November 14th 12 noon. A committal service will be held at the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort, AL at 2:30p.m. on Friday November 14, 2014. If desired, memorial donations can be made to the Grand Bay United Methodist Church or Legacy Group Healthcare.
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