Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 30, 1917 - Oct. 2, 2008
South Bend Tribune 10-4-2008
SOUTH BEND - Frances Naomi Howell, 90, residing in South
Bend, formerly of E. Irvington St., passed away suddenly at 2:10
p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2008, at Morningside Nursing Home. She
was born October 30, 1917, in Lakeville, IN, the daughter of
Floyd and Rose (Bailey) Barkley, and had resided in
St. Joseph County all of her life. On May 2, 1941, in Lakeville,
she was united in marriage to Gerald Peter Howell. They enjoyed
64 years of marriage until his passing on June 7, 2005. She was
also preceded in death by four sisters, Virginia Plummer,
Rowena Hall, Lois Gilmer, and Betty Hoof,
and three brothers, Charles, Ernest and Robert Barkley. Mrs.
Howell and her husband were owners of Howell's Athletic
Lettering, which they operated for more than 25 years. She was a
member of First Christian Church of South Bend, where she was a
Deaconess, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and
was a member of Christian Women's Fellowship. She and Pete
formerly attended Lakeville Christian Church for many years. She
is survived by her two sons, Greg P. Howell and his wife Kay of
Cassopolis, MI; and Kevin Barkley Howell of South Bend. Also
surviving are two grandsons, Ryan (Kristy) Howell of Mishawaka,
and Erik Howell of Hawaii; a great-granddaughter, Taylor Howell
of Mishawaka; a brother, John Barkley of Inman, SC; and four
sisters-in-law, Marjorie Barkley and Mickey Barkley, and Emogene Woodcox
all of South Bend, and Doris Barkley-Ashcroft of Longview,
TX.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend, where friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and one hour prior to services on Monday. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Howell may be offered to Alzheimer's Services, 922 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN.