JOHN HOWARD

CHARLESTON -- John Henry Howard, 78, of Charleston, died Saturday, July 13, 1996, at Charleston Manor.

He was born Feb. 2, 1918, in Hughes, Ark., son of H. and Freddie Whitmore Howard. He married the former Pearlene Anderson.

Howard was a retired farm laborer, and had lived in Missouri more than 70 years.

Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Selma Betts of St. Louis, Elnora Mims of Chicago, Vastie Smith of Cairo, Ill., Susan Howard of Charleston; four sons, Arthur and Curtis Howard of Chicago, Gary Howard of Frankfort, Ky., Marshall Howard of Charleston; three sisters, Velma Williams and Mildred Coleman of Bloomington, Ill., Mary Myles of Charleston.

Eight stepdaughters, Rosie Townsend of Murphysboro, Ill., Peggy Anderson of East Prairie, Joyce Anderson of Los Angeles, Calif., Patsy, Betty, Shirley and Vinna Anderson, all of Charleston, Pearlean Anderson of Sikeston; four stepsons, James, Woodrow and Eddie Anderson, all of Charleston, Lawrence Anderson of Oceanside, Calif.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Sparks Funeral Home in Charleston from 7-8 p.m. Friday.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthew Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wiley Reed officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.