Ronnie Charles Howard of Nashville, Arkansas passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. He was born on January 7, 1944 in Dierks, Arkansas to the late Ruth Green Howard and Floyse Hyle Howard. Ronnie graduated from Dierks High School in 1962. He studied Business Administration at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Southern State College and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. His work history included several years with Dierks Forestry, Hartness Construction, the University of Arkansas and Drew County Tomato Growers and Lincoln Income Life Insurance Company. He was employed by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Nashville as office manager from 1968 until his retirement in 2001. Ronnie was fierce competitor. As a young man, he excelled in high school basketball and football. On graduating from high school, he signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks Football team but had his promising future on the gridiron cut short by an unfortunate injury. Ronnie was an avid sportsman who loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and collecting guns. He shared this interest with many young people while serving as an adult leader in with the Howard County 4-H Shooting Sports Club. For many years he taught hunter education classes. Ronnie was baptized into the Lord at a very early age and remained a faithful member of the Church of Christ until his death. For many years he taught Bible class for junior high students. He also served as treasurer for the Monticello Church of Christ for several years. Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Floyse Howard, two brothers, Danny Hyle Howard (Jacque) and Thomas Howard (Paula) and an infant son, Glen Christian Howard. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Jo Norsworthy Howard, two daughters, Dana Danielle Hughes (Travis) of Royce City, Texas, Shelby Lynn Bowles (Randy), Wynne; two sons, Ronnie Michael Howard (Joanna) of Nashville and Sammy Dean Howard of New York, New York; nine grandchildren: Christian Hart, Austin Hughes, Ansley Hughes, Lily Bowles, Alayna Hughes, Walter Bowles, Bella Bowles, Halton Howard and Lacey Clayton Mott (Stephen). Ronnie is also survived by his sister, Jo Ann Howard Walters (Billy Jay, deceased) of Dierks, his brothers Richard Howard (Jeanna) of Nashville and Jimmy Lloyd (Wanda) of Dierks. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015 at Sunset Church of Christ at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Glenn Lance, Randy Hughes, and Michael Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery in Nashville under the direction of Latimer Funeral Home, Nashville. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home chapel. Memorials may be sent to: Indian Christian School; c/o Sunset Church of Christ; P.O. Box 7; Nashville, Arkansas 71852. You may send an online sympathy message to www.latimerfuneralhome.com.
