Dwight M. Howard

Dwight M. Howard, 94, passed away on March 25, 2014, at his home surrounded by family. Dwight was born in rural Allen County, Kan., on Aug. 25, 1919, the son of Roy and Ida Howard. He graduated from Colony High School in 1937.

After high school, Dwight graduated from Iola Junior College in 1939. To remain close to his brother, Vernon, he joined him in Amarillo, Texas, and enrolled in West Texas State Teachers University. Dwight graduated with a bachelor of science degree from West Texas State Teachers College in Amarillo, Texas, in 1942. Dwight enlisted in the Marines on Dec.17, 1941. After serving in the Marines he earned his masters of arts degree in history from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., in 1946.

While at the University of Kansas he taught western civilization and worked as a librarian at Watson Library. Dwight earned a second bachelor of science degree of education in 1953 from Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, in Pittsburg, Kan.

Dwight was the librarian at Parsons Junior College, Parsons, Kan., where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Carr. They were married on Aug. 23, 1953. Dwight left Parsons Junior College to join in farming the family homestead north and east of Carlyle, Kan. While engaged in farming, he took a part-time job as a librarian at Bartlesville Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Okla. After retiring he and his brother, Vernon, continued to farm and raise cattle for many years.

Dwight was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Retired Teachers Association, West Texas University Alumni Association, Kansas University Alumni Association, the National Historical Society, and the Presbyterian Church. He served at various times on the Board of Deacons and on the Session Board of Elders of the Iola First Presbyterian Church. He also served on the Iola Library Board of Directors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his brother, Vernon; and his parents. He is survived by his four daughters, Linda Lawson, of Olathe, Kan., Catherine Morrell and husband, Jack, of Iola, Janie Watts and husband, Robert, of Nevada, and Annette Vogel and husband, Matt, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.


Visitation was from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., today, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iola. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kan.
Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.
Sign the guestbook and leave condolences online at www.iolafuneral.com.