William Paul Howard, age 68, passed away at St. Francis Hospital, North, in Monroe, LA on December 9, 2007. He was born to M. Pauline Doan Howard and Oscar W. Howard in Shamrock, TX on April 18, 1939. He worked with ANR Pipeline for most of his career and served in the National Guard and the Army Reserve. He was a member of the Valley City Lodge #402, was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 5, was a York Rite Mason, a member of the York Rite Cross of Honor, a 32-degree Mason, and was a Shriner.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, December 12, 2007 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, MS. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning, December 13, 2007 in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks, with burial following the service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley. Rev. Raymond Aven will conduct the service. Pallbearers will be Gilbert Taylor, Robert Partain, Curtis Petit, John Hinkle, Larry Black, Shen Thornton, Michael Blevins, and Bidwell Cook.
Paul Howard is survived by a daughter, Paula R. Hall of Kelly, LA; a step-daughter, Pam Higgenbottom of Lafayette, LA; two sons, William Paul Howard, Jr. and Oscar W. Howard, both of Winnsboro, LA; two step-sons, Johnny Chinault, Jr. of Oxford, MS and William (Bo) Chinault of Water Valley, MS; one sister, Helen (Jimmy) Thornton of Lott, TX; and 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Howard.