Elvin N. Howell (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas--Elvin N. Howell went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, 3, 2023 in Lubbock Texas. A visitation will be held at Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Tulia on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Funeral services will be held in the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 11:00 am with Rev. Charles Davenport officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Funeral services are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia.

Elvin was born in Scurry County, Texas, on January 17, 1914, the youngest child of Luke and Myrtle Howell. He graduated from Snyder High School in 1932. Elvin attended Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, on a track and football scholarship. He graduated from HSU in 1938. He met Rena Mildred Southern, the love of his life, while at HSU. They were married in Brownfield, Texas in 1938.

Elvin was a teacher and coach in Kermit, Texas from 1938 until 1942. Elvin enlisted in the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was sent to OCS in Tucson, AZ and then to gunnery school in Mobile, Alabama. Rena followed him as much as possible to different ports in the U.S. Elvin was passing through the Panama Canal when the crew heard on the radio that the Nazis had surrendered and the war was over. The ship proceeded to the naval base at Corpus Christi, Texas, where Lt. JG Howell was discharged in 1944.

Elvin and Rena bought a home in Amarillo, Texas after the war. While living in Amarillo, their two sons, John and Fred were born. In 1954, the Howells built a home in Tulia, Texas where Elvin resided until 2010. His teaching career spanned 38 years in Kermit, Amarillo, and Tulia as a teacher, coach, and principal. His former students speak fondly of him and remember he was always fair and kind.

In Tulia, Elvin was a 65 year member of the Masonic Lodge, a Deacon of the First Baptist Church in Tulia and was inducted into the Tulia Independent School Hall of Fame.

The Carillon Retirement Community became home to Elvin 2010. He was something of a celebrity there. He was an avid bridge and domino player. His zest for life was enjoyed by many friends at the Carillon. He made headlines at 103 years of age when he ziplined over Palo Duro Canyon.

He is survived by two sons, John and wife, Carol of Ruidoso, NM and Fred and wife, Janie of Lynchburg, VA. Grandchildren are Shana Weaver (Steve) of Gause, TX, Jason Howell (Mandy) of Anderson, Tx, and Jud Howell (Amy) of Huntersville, NC. Great grandchildren are Lauren Weaver Battles, Rachel Weaver, Sawyer, Taylor and Jacey Howell, and Hannah Howell.

Memorials may be made to Rose Hill Cemetery, Box 116, Tulia, Texas, 79088, Swisher County Museum, 127 SW 2nd, Tulia, Texas, 79088 or The Carillon Retirement Community, 1717 Norfolk, Lubbock, Texas 79416.