RICH SQUARE -William “Bruce” Howerton, Sr., age 75, of Rich Square, passed away on November 30, 2015 at his residence.

Mr. Howerton was born on January 17, 1940 to Clayton and Helen Varner Howerton in Knox County, TN. Bruce spent eight years in the US Navy where he began his work as an electrician. He came home to farm for several years, then returned back to doing electrical work that he loved, retiring from Perdue Farms. He loved his garden, his family and was a Member of Kingdom Hall in Scotland Neck, NC.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Linda Howerton, Janice Sharpe, Barbara Britton, and Carol Skeens; two brothers, Ed and Paul Howerton; and two children, baby boy Howerton, and baby girl Howerton.

Bruce is survived by his wife Lillian; two sons, William “Billy” Bruce Howerton Jr. and his wife Wanda of Rich Square, and Christopher “Chris” E. Howerton and his wife Phyllis of Ahoskie; two daughters, Donna Jones and Wilton Strickland of Rich Square, and Denise Miles and husband William of Rich Square; nine grandchildren, William “Ben” Howerton and wife Christina, Carolyn, Jessica, and Christopher Howerton, Brad Cox and wife Melisa, Jonathan Cox and wife Tara, Daniel Gandy and wife Shasta, Lauren Outland, and Emily Miles; four great-grandchildren, Violet and Henry Cox, and Shaun and Olivia Gandy; four sisters, Polly Jordan and husband Earl of Corryton, TN, Sandy Joslin and husband John, Margie Struzinski and husband Jim, and Ada Pratt and husband Jim, all of Knoxville, TN; and two brothers-in-law, Bob Britton and Paul Sharpe, both of Tennessee.

A celebration of life funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 2:00 pm at the Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, NC, with Floyd Norris officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 until 1:45 pm, with burial to follow at Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Rich Square, NC.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Rich Square Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Howerton family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.