Rest in Peace, Donald
AGE: 72 • Bardstown, KY
Donald F. Howell, Jr., 72, died at home Monday, July 25 in Bardstown, KY. Son of Donald F. and Cora M. (Stopford) Howell, Don was born in Camden, NJ, and was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Barbara "Bobbi" (Riha), and brothers Ronald and Thomas. He is survived by his second wife, Cheryl Underhill and brothers Edward and James, Pine Hill, NJ, and Charles (Carol), Chandler, AZ. Don and Bobbi are also survived by their children Karen (Jim) Scout of Bloomfield, KY, and Donald "Joe" (Mary) of Xenia, OH, as well as their beloved grandchildren Colleen Scout, Mark Scout, Mikaela Howell, and Christian "C.J." Howell.
Don was a proud and dedicated member of the Teamsters (Locals 676 and 696) and an over 30-year employee of UPS. He loved spending time with family, solving crossword puzzles, writing poetry, and meeting his 1962 Overbrook classmates for lunch on a monthly basis.
His appreciation for nature and conservation led Don to honor the earth with his passing. His ashes will be placed in a biodegradable urn and a nut tree seed or seedling will be included. The urn will then be interred in a forest and the tree will provide food and shade to all visitors for years to come fulfilling Don's commitment to paying it forward. When the urn is placed, a private memorial service will occur.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to these charities in Don's name: Doctors Without Borders or Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY.
Hello to all, this is Don's daughter, Karen. Dad made me the legacy person for his Facebook page. Dad passed away yesterday at about 3 o'clock. As you are aware, he had been in hospice care for some time. In the last week, he was having difficulties with his illness, and this past weekend, things took a turn for the worse. It was dad's wish to be at home and to not linger lying in a hospital bed for any length of time. The time came for him to move to the hospital bed, and within two hours he was gone. I was there with him; we held hands and said our "I love you's" to one another as he left us. As hard as it is to not have him here with me, I would not wish for him to suffer any more than he already had.
As per our discussion and his wishes, we will not have a funeral service. The Kentucky Cremation Society came to get him yesterday, and his Bios urn is awaiting his ashes. He wants to be a nut tree, and I think he shall be a Shagbark Hickory if I can arrange it.
If you would like to share memories, this would be a wonderful place to do so. He is my dad and my friend. Some people have asked about things they can do in his memory. Dad and I both believe in paying things forward. He was a supporter of Doctors Without Borders and enjoyed Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. We are hoping to plant his tree at Bernheim.
My husband Jim and I are volunteer Naturalists-in-Training at Bernhiem and spend many hours out there. This morning, we went out there just after sunrise to cry, pray, reflect, and meditate on dad's life and the times we shared together. We were surrounded by trees, birds and birdsong, deer, rabbits, and a myriad of other wildlife. I am thankful to have such a place of peace and sanctuary.
My heart hurts, and it is difficult to have to be the bearer of this news. Know that dad loved and cared for each of you, that you held a special place in his heart. Thank you for all the things you have done for him and for sharing your time with him.
This information was posted on Donald's Facebook page on July 26, 2016 at 1:55 pm, by his daughter, Karen Howell Scout.