Obituary of Sylvia HOWARD

Sylvia Melvena Howard, 100, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2005. She was born on April 24, 1905 in Van Buren, MO.Sylvia lived a long, productive, eventful life. From humble beginnings in the Ozark Mountains of Southern Missouri, she taught school in a one room school house at age 17, married her husband, William at age 19 and bore him four sons and a daughter. During "The Great Depression" she worked several jobs, primarily as a seamstress to augment the family income. During the second World War, Sylvia and her husband both worked at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, CA; building liberty ships for the war effort, while son William Jr. served in the Navy and Donald served in the Merchant Marines. After the war ended in 1945 the family moved back to Venice, ILL; where thy resided until 1957. Sylvia and William then owned and operated a Laundromat in Riverside, CA; until William passed away in 1966, In 1974 she moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ; to be near her son William and daughter Shirley.Sylvia is survived by sons Franklin D. Howard and wife Jan of Glendale, AZ; David E. Howard Sr. and wife Margaret of Lake Havasu City, AZ; daughter Shirley R. Dial and husband Elmer of Lake Havasu City, AZ; daughter-in-laws, Clova M. Howard of Granite City, IL; and Mary Lou Howard of Bradenton, FL; plus 19 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren, who will sorely miss her. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband William N. Howard, sons William N. Howard II, Donald N. Howard, plus the many family members and friends who went on before.A visitation will be held at Lietz-Fraze Chapel on Monday, June 27, 2005 from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First Southern Baptist Church on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Olivewood Cemetery in Riverside, CA; beside her beloved husband William.In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in Sylvia's name to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, AZ; 86405.Condolences may be made to her family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.