Mrs. Ruth Smith Howard's Obituary
Ruth Smith Howard, age 96 and a resident of Houston, passed peacefully in her home of 53 years, on December 23, 2013. Ruth, the forth of nine brothers and sisters, was born on August 13, 1917 in Isabella, Tennessee, to Beatrice A. and John B. Smith. She is preceded in death by her husband Roy E. Howard, Jr., sisters Georgia DeGlandon, Molly Smith, Dorothy Ledbetter, Hazel Smith, Mable Boyd, and brother Wade Smith. She is survived by her son Roy E. Howard, III and his wife Kathy, grandsons Roy E. Howard, IV and his wife Laura, John D. Howard, Scott D. Howard, granddaughter Kimberly B. Howard, sister F. Joan Smith, brother R. Lee Smith and many nieces and nephews. Ruth graduated from Milby High School in 1936 after being elected May Queen of her graduating class. She then moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Draughon Business School, and then moved back to Houston to begin her career with Dunn & Bradstreet. While traveling to work on the bus, she met her husband-to-be, Roy E. Howard, Jr. who was, at the time, attending Rice University. Ruth and Roy were married on January 25, 1941, and remained lovingly united for the next 71 years. She especially enjoyed traveling, camping in the mountains of Colorado, and the years they spent as expatriates in Venezuela and Kuwait. Mrs. Howard was a member of Memorial Drive Baptist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She later joined Houston First Baptist Church and was an active member of her Sunday School class. Ruth enjoyed gardening as a hobby, and was a member of the Tynewood Garden Club. Visitation will be at the South Park Funeral Home, 1310 North Main Street, Pearland, Texas 77581, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sunday, December 29, 2013. Funeral Services will be held at the South Park Funeral Home at 12:30 pm on Monday, December 30, 2013, with final internment at the adjoining cemetery. A reception will be held following the service at the family residence. If desired, contributions in Ruth's memory may be directed to:
VSC of RSSLC (Volunteer Service Council of Richmond State Supported Living Center), 2100 Preston Street, Richmond, TX 77469.
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