Howell, Barbara Bates 1912-2008

HOWELL, BUCHANAN, BATES, OLSON, NELSON, JOLLEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/29/2012 at 09:34:15

Obituary - Tributes.com

BARBARA BATES HOWELL
Born: March 29, 1912
Died: April 29, 2008
Location: Grinnell, Iowa

She was born March 29, 1912, in Grinnell, Iowa, the second daughter of pioneer Grinnell businessman Roy E. Bates and his wife Kathrina Buchanan Bates. She attended the Grinnell schools and graduated from Grinnell College in 1933. She left Grinnell to go to Moser Secretarial School in Chicago and later moved to New York City to work with the Religious Book Club. In 1937 she became an executive secretary in the office of Thomas E. Dewey when he was Special Prosecutor and later District Attorney in New York City. After Mr. Dewey became Governor of New York, Barbara accepted a position as legal secretary to Barent Ten Eyck in the law firm of Parker & Duryee, Mr. Ten Eyck having been one of Mr. Dewey's top assistants.

On December 18, 1942, Barbara was married to Irving R. Howell of Goshen, New York and continued to work in New York City while 'Skeet' served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war they decided that they preferred to live in a small town; so they came to Grinnell in 1946 and formed a partnership with her father in Bates Flowers. In 1956 they purchased the business outright and continued to be an important part of the business community until their retirement on December 31, 1976. They were both active in community and church affairs. Barbara's main interest was the Hospital, where she served on the Hospital Board for six years and also helped out with the Hospital Auxiliary. She was also actively interested in the Boy Scouts when her sons were young. Barbara is a member of the United Church of Christ-Congregational, having served on the Social Action Committee and the Women's Fellowship Board, and has been a member of the Hand Bell Choir. She is a Past President of the Chapter JB of PEO and a member of the Priscilla Club. Mr. Howell died in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Mary Bates Olson, and one granddaughter, Monica Elizabeth Howell.

She is survived by two sons: Thomas H. Howell (wife Sylvia) and Edward A. (Ned) Howell (wife Kathleen) of West Lafayette, Indiana; four grandsons: Alexander John, Anthony Thomas, John Connor, and Drew Connor Howell; and two sisters: Jean Bates Nelson of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Joy Bates Jolley of Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was preceded by her husband; her parents; one sister, Mary Bates Olson; and one granddaughter, Monica Elizabeth Howell.