MURFREESBORO – Mr.  Alton Thomas Howard, age 86 of Murfreesboro, NC, expired on Friday, February 4, 2011 in Hampton, Va.

Mr.  Thomas, better known as Buster or Buddy, was born on December 18, 1924.  He was the oldest son of the late Thornton Howard and Ethel Boone Howard of Rich Square, NC.  Mr. Howard grew up in Northampton and Hertford County.  He completed his education at Vaughtown School in Murfreesboro, NC.  At an early age he joined First Baptist Church Rich Square.

He was in the US Army and he was also the owner of Howard’s Garage.

His survivors include two sons, Orville Howard (Queenie) and Christopher Vinson, both of Murfreesboro, NC; six daughters, Virginia Howard (Friend), Carroll C. Briggs, Annie Vaughan (Fred), Annie Newsome, Bernice Mitchell (Charles), and Verniece Howard (Johnnie Williams), all of Murfreesboro, NC, and Rose Pulley, (Sammy) of Raleigh, NC; one brother, Joseph Howard (Frances) of Newport News, VA; one son who preceded him in death, Robert Lassiter; twenty seven grandchildren; and a close friend, Jean Leathers

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday February 9, 2011 at First Baptist Church Rich Square, Rich Square, NC. Rev. William Clark, Pastor, will be officiating. His interment will be at The Howard Family Cemetery on Vaughan Town Road, Murfreesboro, NC.

Reynolds Funeral Home of Ahoskie is handling the arrangements.