James Howie

James Andrew Howie, 79, of Danville, died at 7:40 p.m. Sunday February 18, 2007, in Danville, surrounded by his family. He left life as he lived it, with grace, strength and dignity. James was born May 29, 1927, in Tilton, a son of Lawrence and Marie Hosch Howie. He married Julie Frances LaCombe, a native of Negaunee, Mich., on Jan. 27, 1951, in Danville. She survives. Also surviving are eight children, and their children: James Michael Howie, his wife Debbie, and children, Michael Howie and Logan Howie, all of Winona Lake, Indiana, and Aubrey and Brian Carpenter and their son Cooper, all of Danville; Karen Jeanne Stelzer and her husband, Keith, of Danville, and children, James and Darcy Stelzer, and son Daulton, of State Line, Indiana, Phillip Stelzer of Bloomington, Morgan Stelzer, Joseph and Brittany Stelzer, and children, Ronnie and Jaiden, all of Danville; Michael Edward Howie and his wife, Mary Ann Royse, and sons, Andrew Howie and Thomas Howie, all of Champaign; Allen Doyle Howie and his wife Lisa, and children, Emma Howie, Sophie Howie, and Jack Howie, all of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; Laura Frances Howie-Walters and her husband, Gary Walters of Indianapolis; Christopher Lawrence Howie and his wife, Julie and children, Erin Howie, Megan Howie and Mitchell Howie, all of Danville, David Andrew Howie and his wife Cindy, and children Daniel Howie and Ariana Howie, all of Champaign; and William Scott Howie and his wife Lisa, and children, Jamey Howie, Beth Howie and Jordan Howie, all of Massillon, Ohio. Also surviving are Larry and Juanita Howie of West Virginia, Daniel and Barbara Howie of Tyler Texas, Bob and Thelma Howie of Sante, California, Paul and Joy Howie of Sante,Ca., Joe and Betty Howie of Lakeside, California, Sarah Howie, Sandra Howie Da, Wilma Howie, Barbara Sager,Loretta Kelso, all of Danville, and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Donald, Earl, Sam, and John, and his sister, Vera Johnson, a grandson Zachary Howie of Champaign, and a great grandson Jonathan Stelzer of Danville. James attended Diamond Grade School in Batestown and Oakwood High School, leaving high school at age 17, to serve his country, in the South Pacific, aboard the Navy destroyer USS McDermut, during World War II. Upon returning to Danville, after the war, he graduated from Oakwood High and went to work at General Motors Central Foundry in Tilton, where he would spend 41 years. His father helped him build a house for his new bride, on Mauck Lane in Batestown. The couple began to raise a family, and as the family grew, he took on the work of building another larger house with his children, and in the process taught them care, discipline and persistence. He enjoyed taking his children swimming in the Salt Fork, and for hikes in the woods nearby. He also enjoyed a decades-long tradition of playing harmonica for every new child in the family, and recently played for his youngest great-grandson. He always planted too many tomatoes and always cooked too many pancakes, but somehow, nothing was wasted. When he retired from Central Foundry in 1988, he and his wife began to travel more often, visiting Ireland, Scotland and Australia, as well as his family in the United States. He also loved his simple walks up and down his street and through the woods where he grew up. He was a faithful member of Holy Family parish, Danville, a church he helped build; and United Auto Workers Local 579. He had many lifelong friends, especially Ferris Cramer and he was known to spin a yard or two. He created his legacy by example. He expected his sons and daughters to be devoted spouses, loving parents, hard workers, responsible citizens, good friends and people of faith, so he devoted himself to his wife, loved his children and grandchildren, worked hard at every task set before him, voted in every election, invested himself in every friendship and was diligent in prayer and worship. He hoped his children would lead lives filled with laughter, joy, music, beauty and peace; so he laughed, joked, played, reveled in the beauty of Gods creation and sought out peace. He will be missed. A Mass of Christian Burial for James A. Howie will be at 11:00am Friday, February 23, 2007 at Holy Family Catholic Church, with Father Ted Pracz as celebrant. Burial will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8:00pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center on Thursday, February 22, 2007. Memorials may be made in Jims name to Holy Family Church or Holy Family School. E-mail condolence may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com