Mr. Howard Ray Waters, age 77, a resident of Chocowinity, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at his home.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 19, 2016 at Elizabeth Chapel Church of Christ and will be conducted by Kent Gurganus with special music to be provided by Eddie Bowen. Burial will follow in the Weston Family Cemetery, Blounts Creek, NC. His sons and grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Malcolm Johnson and Victor Moore will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the Church of Christ Eastwood in Wabash, Indiana, and will be conducted by Timothy P. Tyner.

Howard was born in Beaufort County, NC on February 16, 1939 to the late Russell Monroe Waters and Ruby Elizabeth Cayton Waters. He was a 1957 graduate of Chocowinity High School and attended the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and also Roanoke Bible College. On November 1, 1962, he married Nancy Marie Saltsman who preceded him in death on April 15, 2015. Howard was a Church of Christ Evangelist for more than 57 years and held revival services in more than 20 states across the United States. Of his many years as an evangelist in Indiana and North Carolina, more than 30 were spent serving with the Church of Christ Eastwood in Wabash, Indiana. In 2011, Howard was able to fulfill his lifelong goal of returning to his home in Chocowinity to work with churches across the area serving as an evangelist, teacher and supporter. He also held various leadership seminars for church elders and deacons and assisted dozens of congregations. Howard’s career always had a focus on youth programs.

Howard was also a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and was able to see them win the World Series before he passed away.

Survivors include three sons, James R. Waters and wife Tracy of Bowling Green Kentucky, Tim Waters and wife Carla of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jeffray Waters and wife Kim of Chocowinity, one daughter, Amber Waters Marlow and husband Kirk of Wabash, Indiana, two sisters, Linda Hudson and husband Gene of Chocowinity, Betty Weeks and husband Austin, also of Chocowinity, and one brother, Russell Waters and wife Betty of Washington; eleven grandchildren, Arianna Waters, Alexis Waters, Ashlynn Waters, Chance Waters, Katy Fountain, Hatch Fountain, Alex Roberts, Will Roberts, Ethen Roberts, Jacob Marlow and Philip Marlow, one great-granddaughter, Layla Waters and one great-grandson, Liam Gabriel Waters.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 1:00 pm until the funeral hour at the church.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Howard R. Waters Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1465, Washington, NC 27889.

You may address condolences and view the video tribute Friday by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Waters family.