HOWE, Alton M. 1923-2004

HOWE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/19/2009 at 12:39:25

CHARLES CITY, IOWA — Alton M. Howe, age 81, of 801 11th St., Charles City, died Sunday morning (Oct. 3, 2004) at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 S. Main St. in Charles City, with the Rev. Dennis Niezwaag officiating. Interment and military graveside services will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Nashua, at noon that same day.

The family greeted relatives and friends on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. in Charles City. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service today at the church.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, the American Lung Association or to Hospice of North Iowa.

Alton Melvin Howe was born Sept. 11, 1923, near Nashua. He was one of four sons born to James H. and Lavina A. (Eikenberry) Howe. Alton attended rural school in Greene and graduated from Greene High School in the class of 1941.

Alton was inducted into the U.S. Navy on Sept. 4, 1941, and served his duties during World War II, mostly in the South Pacific, attaining the rank of Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class.

After honorably and faithfully serving his country, Alton was formally discharged from the military on Aug. 20, 1948.

On a Friday the 13th in 1952, Alton met his future bride and the love of his life, Leona Litterer, at a dance in Powersville, Iowa.

The couple married a year later on June 27, 1953, at the United Church of Christ, rural Nashua. Together they enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, creating ceramic pieces and cheering for a variety of sports teams, especially the Twins and the Vikings.

Alton and Leona became the proud parents of two daughters and two sons. Alton was a lifelong resident of the Greene and Charles City areas. They lived at the same address in Charles City since 1959. Alton took great pride in providing for his family. They were always the top priority of his life and he treasured attending all the family events and activities.

Alton was employed as a truck driver and laborer in the road construction business and worked “out of town” during much of his earning years.

He retired from Allied Construction, after 25 years with the company, in 1986. However, following his retirement, Alton chose to work part-time at Allied Ready Mix.

While his family was growing up, Alton found himself the driver for his children as they fulfilled the obligations of a Sunday morning paper route.

He shared his enthusiasm and love of airplanes with his family. They often traveled to many air shows and became avid spectators. His family greatly admired watching the Blue Angels and other special air exhibitionists. His family also recall Alton’s wonderful sense of humor and careful tending to his yard.

In 1995, Alton and Leona had the great privilege of attending the Victory ’95 World War II 50th Anniversary Celebration in Omaha, Neb., commemorating the end of World War II. Alton always remained faithful to his feelings of patriotism.

Alton was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and a former member of the Moose Lodge, both in Charles City.

Alton will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Leona Howe, of Charles City; his daughter, Diana (Boyd) Dingman of Omaha, Neb.; his son, Danny (Bobette) Howe, of New Liberty; his twins, Kathy Mooberry, of Omaha, Neb.; and Kent (Kim) Howe of Colorado Springs, Colo. He will also be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren, Andrew, Darcie and Travis Dingman, Brian Petersen, and Amanda, Alexandra and Nathan Howe; his four great-grandchildren, Kirstyn, Kaitlyn and Emma Petersen and Ty Dingman and his two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Howe and Marlys Howe.

Preceding Alton in death are his parents, James and Lavina Howe; his son-in-law, Dennis Mooberry; and his three brothers, Kenneth, Wilbur, and Clyde Howe.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Service, (641) 228-4211. www.fullertonfh.com

[Mason City Globe Gazette]