Obituary

Donnie Howell, 94, of Plainview passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. A Funeral Service is scheduled for 4 o' clock in the afternoon on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Lemons Memorial Chapel with Pastor Phillip Hamilton of Bethel Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be at a later dater in Littlefield Memorial Park. Arrangements are entrusted to Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview.

Donnie Lee Howell was born on August 22, 1926 on the family farm near Grandfield, Oklahoma to parents Thurman and Lela Howell. He attended Grandfield schools and graduated from high school in 1944. Donnie was inducted in the U.S. Navy in January of 1945. He did Basic Training at the Navy Hospital Core School in San Diego, California, was assigned to the Naval Hospital in Norman, Oklahoma, and attained the rank of Pharmacist Mate, 3rd Class. In July 1946, Donnie’s father was injured in a farming accident, and Donnie received an early honorable discharge to return home and help at the family farm.

In 1946, while attending Pleasant Mound Baptist Church, Donnie met and fell in love with Birdia Charlene Bitner. They were married on September 12, 1947. They had 4 children and were married for 73 years. He farmed near Grandfield, Oklahoma until the summer of 1949. Later that year, his family moved to Plainview, Texas so he could attend Wayland Baptist University. During that time, he worked at Plainview Daily Herald.

Between 1950-1951, Donnie pastored churches in Oklahoma. His family moved to Littlefield, Texas in 1953 where Donnie was hired by the U.S. Postal Service, and in 1955 he was called to pastor at Rocky Ford Baptist Church while continuing to work for USPS. Donnie devoted himself to countless ministry services throughout his life. He eventually resigned from his love of being a pastor for health reasons but continued to be active in ministry through Sunday School, Training Union, RA’s, and GA’s at Parkview Baptist Church in Littlefield.

Donnie loved summertime camping trips with family, especially when it involved fishing. He was an avid reader, good at playing horseshoes, and enjoyed going RV camping after his retirement.

Donnie is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 73 years, Birdia Howell; son Jackie Howell; daughter Kathy Ebeling and her husband, Max Ebeling; daughter-in-law Vicky Howell; granddaughters Amy Howell, Angee Calvert, Julie Bielefeldt, Katie Evans, and Krista Torres; and great grandchildren Keira Calvert, Marx, Maddox, Ethan, and Avery Bielefeldt, and Natalie and Nathan Mares. He is preceded in death by two sons, Gary and Bill Howell, and two brothers, Ray Neal Howell and Roy Howell.