George Frederick Howell Ii

George F. Howell was born June 22, 1924 in Dupo, Illinois. He was raised in Dupo and attended school at Dupo Community High School. Upon completion of his education, George was employed by the New-American Cleaners in Dupo prior to his entry into military service, where he drove a delivery truck for the company.

George was inducted into the service of his country on April 2, 1943 in Peoria, Illinois. After attending boot camp, Private First Class Howell attended telephone switchboard operator training and was sent to New Guinea for his duty assignment. He served nearly eighteen months overseas before receiving his honorable discharge at the Separation Center at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on January 23, 1946. Prior to his honorable discharge, George received the following decorations and citations, Bronze Star for the New Guinea Campaign, the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Campaign with three overseas service bars, Victory Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal.

Upon his discharge from the Army Air Corp, George moved to Wichita, Kansas and was employed as the Choir director for the Baptist Tabernacle. In the early 1960's, George moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and was later married on November 27, 1965 to Erma Jean Huskey. The couple made their initial home in Tulsa and then moved to Lawrence, Kansas where they managed apartments. The couple returned to Tulsa in the early 1970's and George accepted employment with American Builders until the closure of the company. He then accepted employment as a locksmith with the Murral Wobble Company until his retirement in 1985. George later was employed in the maintenance department of the Jenks Public School System.

George enjoyed being active; he liked fishing, bowling and roller skating. George was baptized at the age of seventeen and his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was evident in his daily walk. He enjoyed taking young people to church with him. He attended the Church of the Nazarene in Hominy and loved the church and his church family. George loved listening to music, especially gospel music.

George passed away on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of eighty-three years, six months and nine days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Frederick Howell, II; three brothers and six sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Howell of the home; son, Darrell Hiser and his wife Dana of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; two brothers, Howard Howell and Bill Howell; two granddaughters, Cory Hiser of Montgomery, Alabama and Melissa Dee of Moline, Illinois and a great grandson, Sebastian Dee of Moline, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Church of the Nazarene in Hominy with Carl Brown officiating. Burial will be at the A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.