Obituary: Helen Horn Howard

Helen Horn Howard died June 21, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 100 years old. She had lived in Gainesville, Florida for 63 years before moving to Nashville.

Mrs. Howard was born in Brillion, Wisconsin to Henry C. Horn and Juanita L. Horn. Both her maternal and paternal grandparents were pioneer settlers in the Brillion and Reedsville areas of Wisconsin, coming to America from Germany in the 1840’s.

In 1947 Mrs. Howard married her college sweetheart, William M. (Bill) Howard, who was then in graduate school. They moved to Gainesville in 1955 when he became a professor of finance in the College of Business Administration at the University of Florida.

Mrs. Howard earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree at the University of Florida. She taught music in the public schools of Madison and Waupun, Wisconsin and at the University of Wisconsin. She was active in musical groups all her life. She was the soprano soloist with the University of Wisconsin Concert Band and was featured in a weekly radio show, “Melodies for Two”, on radio station WHA for two years while at the university.

She was an active volunteer in many organizations in Gainesville. For several years she was a committee of one who sold ads for the League of Women Voters’ monthly newsletter. The ads paid for the publication costs of the newsletter. She was active in many city and county political campaigns and was campaign manager for her husband when he was elected to the Gainesville City Commission. She campaigned door to door for Cora Roberson, the first Black woman to run for public office in Gainesville. She campaigned in Tallahassee at the Capitol for the state of Florida to ratify the ERA amendment. She served on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters, the University Women’s Club, the Gainesville Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Cumberland Circle Community Association. She was active in parent groups at J.J. Finley School, Gainesville High School and P.K. Yonge Laboratory School.

Mrs. Howard was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Iota, Sigma Epsilon Sigma, and Pi Lambda Theta. She was an active member of the University United Methodist Church and sang in the choir for more than 40 years. She served the church as a trustee and as a member of the Administrative Council. When that church disbanded, she became a member of First United Methodist Church. She was also a participant in the Leadership Gainesville program.

She enjoyed singing, music of many types - especially classical music, reading and traveling. She was a loyal fan of the Gator sports teams. She was a loving, supportive and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who took great pleasure and pride in her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Dr. William M. Howard and by her son, Michael Ivan Howard. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law: Susan Howard Wellons and Dr. Stephen L. Wellons of Charleston, WV; Jane E. Howard, M.D. and Lawrence A. Scheving, M.D. of Nashville, TN; and Katherine (Kate) Howard Resnick and Steven D. Resnick, M.D. of Louisville, CO. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Dr. Matthew Wellons and his wife Natalie, Dr. Jonathan Wellons and his wife Tracy, and Mark Wellons; Brenna Scheving and her husband Ivar Gylfason, William Scheving, M.D., and Caroline Scheving; and Laura Resnick and her husband, Michael Stypulkoski, Benjamin Resnick, and Peter Resnick. She is survived by five great-grandchildren: Neil, Graham and Max Wellons, Sophie Stypulkoski and Katla Jane Ivarsdottir. Other survivors are a sister- in-law, Marjorie Horn, and nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held.