RUTH HOWARD

SIKESTON -- Ruth Howard, 76, of Sikeston died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Jan. 6, 1923, at Lander's Ridge, daughter of William Polk and Mary Scoville Townsend. She and Gerald D. Howard were married Oct. 14, 1944.

Howard was a 1940 graduate of Morehouse High School, and attended Steimle School of Business.

She was employed two years by the U.S. Army Air Corps in the supply department. She worked at Sikeston Public Schools, Sikeston Public Library, and was an optical assistant for Dr. Nat Snider 17 years.

Howard was a member of Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church, its Circle II and Red Room Class, had been a Sunday School teacher, and held various church offices.

She received an honorary life membership from the women of the church in 1988, and was named Elks Lady of the Year for 1993-94.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Richard and Robert Howard of Sikeston; three daughters, Linda Berry of Sikeston, Patricia Young and Lisa Peterson of Galveston, Texas; a brother, Jerry Townsend of Spring Hill, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.

Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hunter Memorial Church, with the Rev. Rufus McLean Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Matthews Cemetery at Matthews.