Submitted by: Dan Rich

Frances Naomi Howell

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.