ROBERT HOWARD

JACKSON -- Robert L. Howard, 80, of Jackson died Sunday, Dec. 28, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 18, 1917, in Oxford, Miss., son of Bernie and Effie Vincent Howard. He and Marie Hager were married in July 1977, at Dexter.

Howard served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He then lived in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was a sheet metal worker. He moved back to Jackson and worked at the former Jackson Hosiery Mill, and later retired as a watchman at Lenco Inc.

Howard was a member of First Baptist Church and Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Robert Howard Jr. of San Antonio, Texas, Roy Howard of Jackson; five brothers, Clayton and Hoit Sparks of St. Louis, Wilburn and Denford Sparks of Jackson, Joe Sparks of Malden; a sister, Pauline Jerome of Roxana, Ill.; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, a brother and two sisters.

Friends may call at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Bill Ellis officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.