Norma Marian Howard

Hoover

On Jan. 21, 2011, Norma Marian Howard, 91, went home to be with her Lord. Mrs. Howard was born on Oct. 27, 1919, in Helena, Mont. She was raised by her adoptive mother, Claire Alice Wilson, a teacher in Auburn, Wash. She studied at the University of Washington and Tacoma General Hospital, graduating as a registered nurse. While employed at Harbor View Hospital, Seattle, Wash., she worked as a general duty, assistant head and supervising nurse of the orthopedic section, and also supervised student nurses. During World War II, Mrs. Howard served as lieutenant in the U.S. Army, primarily nursing causalities from the Pacific Theater.

Mrs. Howard lived in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, Miss. for most of her life. She worked as an R.N. for many years at Howard Memorial Hospital’s nursing home in Biloxi, and rose to the rank of Major as a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol. She survived Hurricane Camille, and following her retirement, moved to the Birmingham area to be near her family after her apartment building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Her last years were spent at the Riverchase Village Assisted Living Facility in Hoover, where she enjoyed varied activities, from bingo to Bible study, with her many friends. Her days there were often brightened by visits from members of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church and its Pastor Emeritus, Otis Brooks.

Mrs. Howard was married to Edwin Charles Howard, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Ronald Charles Howard; her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Boggan Howard of Pelham; and by her grandchildren, Michael Charles Howard and Michelle Elizabeth Howard of Hattiesburg, Miss.

A gathering of her family and friends will be held at Rockco Funeral Home in Montevallo at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, with a brief graveside service to be conducted by Gary Yarbrough, Director of Pastoral Care at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster.

In lieu of flowers, which are restricted at the Alabama National Cemetery, the family has requested that donations be made to the Lovelady Center in Birmingham.