Otis Howser

OTIS ROY HOWSER

Funeral services for Otis Roy Howser, 92, of Gainesville are set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Burial will follow in the Callisburg Cemetery. No visitation is planned. Services are under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Otis was born on Sept. 8, 1917 to William Leon and Clara Karsteter Howser in rural Cooke County in the community of Fairview, named after the Fairview School District and Westview, named after the Westview Methodist Church. Mr. Howser passed away Saturday, July 17, 2010. He was educated at the Fairview School and graduated from Whitesboro High School. He married Velma Fae Thomas on Dec. 4, 1940 in Gainesville. Otis was drafted into the military in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army in North Africa, Naples, Foggia, Rome, Arno, the Northern Appenines and Po Valley. He was discharged in 1945 and returned to Cooke County. He was a member of Westview Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School until the district consolidated and he joined the First United Methodist Church of Whitesboro. Otis furthered his education by studying agriculture with the intention of becoming a farmer. Later, he and Velma worked at the Linda Jo Shoe Factory in Gainesville. Eventually, he obtained a job at Burlington Industries in Sherman until his retirement. After retirement, he took up his favorite hobbies of gardening and fishing. However, in 2000, he and Velma decided to move back to Gainesville due to health concerns.

Mr. Howser is survived by his twin sons, Larry Howser and his wife Barbara of Arlington and Ronnie Howser and wife Mary of Gainesville and four grandchildren, Michael Howser and wife Melinda of Arlington, Marcus Howser and wife Holly of Spokane Valley, Wash., Melanie Gray and husband William of Denton and Heather Howser of Denton. He is also survived by his great grandson, Noah Howser of Spokane Valley, Wash.

Otis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Velma; brothers, C. L. Howser and Lloyd Howser; sister, Connie Moore and an unnamed infant.