Mr. Vernon Franklin Howell, Sr., age 90, of 1169 Ripp Highway, Pinetown, NC died Saturday August 25, 2018 peacefully at home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday August 29, 2018 in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 304 W. 2nd Street Washington, NC 27889. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.

Mr. Howell was born on September 19, 1927, the son of Fred Clark Howell and Myrtle Pate Gibson Howell in Hamlet, NC. He was the beloved husband, soul mate and business partner of Elizabeth Ammons Howell. He was a member of Bath United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth “Lib” Ammons Howell. They were married on December 26, 1949 in Dillon, SC. He graduated from school in Gibson, NC. As a child he raised and sold produce with his family. After moving to Gibson his father began a lumber mill in McCall, SC. This later led him and his wife to move to Pinetown, NC in 1958 to build another lumber mill. He and his wife were nervous about moving so far away from his home, however, the people of this community quickly took them in and made them their family. As the years went by he had friends that encouraged him to diversify into farming. He loved and enjoyed farming, and also watching his sons and grandsons in the farming operation.

Mr. Howell is survived by six children, thirteen grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He was also looking forward to the birth of two more great grandchildren in the coming months.

His children are Vernon Franklin Howell, Jr. and wife Nell of Washington, Fred Thomas Howell and wife Debbie Jo of Pinetown, Colon Whitfield Howell and wife Brenda Kay of Pinetown, Wayne Ammons Howell and wife Candy of Pinetown, Elizabeth Denise (Lisa) Howell Brown and husband Billy of Washington, Forrest Glenn Howell and wife Fran of Pinetown, and he was preceded in death by a son Winston Gibson Howell.

His grandchildren are, Franklin Todd Howell and wife Reagan of Greenville, Winston Thomas Howell and wife Kristi of Winterville, Frederick Christopher Howell and wife Michele of Pantego, Holly Elizabeth Howell and husband Brad of Morehead City, Pate Whitfield Howell and wife Ambre of Pinetown, Pamela Kay Howell Boyd and husband Jeremy of Pinetown, Ashley Candace Howell Swindell and husband Lance of Plymouth, Wayne Ammons Howell, Jr. of Pinetown, Elizabeth Gabrielle Brown Russ and husband Nick of Fairfield, Megan Athleen Brown of Washington, Forrest Chandler Howell, Daniel Griffin Howell, and Cameron William Howell of Pinetown. He was preceded in death by a grandson Stuart Eakes Brown.

His great grandchildren are, Emerson Thomas Howell, Allie Elizabeth Howell, Hamilton Layne Howell, Bowen Thomas Honeycutt, Davis Henry Honeycutt, Claire Elizabeth Howell, Emalie Taylor Howell, Gage Holmes Boyd, Wyatt Whitfield Howell, Sadie Mae Howell, Tanner Wayne Swindell, Tatum Lance Swindell.

He is survived by three sisters, Gloria Howell Coughenour of Laurinburg, Wanda Howell Stanton and husband Robert of Bennettsville, SC, and Freda Howell Mann and husband Patrick of Beaverton, OR. He was preceded in death by a brother Roderick Dowd Howell and a sister Anne Howell Braswell. He is also survived by a brother-in-law David Braswell, sisters-in-law, Hazel A. Snipes of Marion, SC, and Annie Catherine A. Collins of Winston-Salem.

Pallbearers are his sons, Vernon F. Howell, Jr., Fred Thomas Howell, Colon Whitfield Howell, Wayne Ammons Howell, Forrest Glenn Howell, son-in-law Billy Eakes Brown, and a dear family friend, Kenny Wayne Woolard. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m, Tuesday August 28, 2018 in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church of Washington and other times at his home.

The family would like to thank the faithful caregivers that loved and were so attentive to him: Maria Silvia Salas Valle, Glencia Whitney, Maria Trejo, Raquel Trejo, and Gabby Salas. We would also like to acknowledge Wanda Foster for her faithfulness and hard work with our family in the family business throughout the many years.

Flowers are welcome, or donations would be greatly appreciated to the Pinetown Fire, Rescue & EMS, 7262 North Boyd Road, Pinetown, NC 27865 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, the Ronald McDonald House, 529 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834 or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor William Ray Askew, Pastor William Creech and Pastor Bob Albritton. Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Howell family.