Delores Kay ‘Dee’ Howell

Delores Kay “Dee” Howell, 65, of Van Wert, died at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born July 1, 1949, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Robert and Mable (Hartwick) Simpson.

Besides her parents, Dee was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Floyd E. and Mabel Simpson, formerly of Cecil, and maternal grandparents William C. and Sophie Mae Hartwick, formerly of Briceton.

Dee began her teaching career at Crestview Local Schools, then was assistant director at what was then Wee Care Day Care Center in Van Wert. She was later instrumental in starting Convoy Preschool. She then taught at Vantage Career Center, with both Adult Education and GRADS – a parenting program for high school moms and dads. She was active as an advisor for the Junior Fair Board for 10 years and was a Future Homemakers of America advisor for a decade.

She was a member and former trustee of the Van Wert County Historical Society, a member of the Van Wert YMCA for more than 30 years and belonged to Twig II of Van Wert County Hospital.

She attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Convoy and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert.

Dee was a 1967 graduate of Paulding High School and attended Ohio State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in home economics education in 1971. In 2012, she received her master’s degree in interpersonal/personal communication from Purdue University.

Family survivors include her daughters, Yvonne Kay Barger of Convoy and Elizabeth Owens “Betsy” Howell of Columbus; a son, Wayne Allen Howell of Willshire; one grandson, Marcus Anthony Howell; two brothers, Kenneth Robert (Dee) Simpson and Charles Evan (Sue) Simpson, both of Cecil; and a sister, Cathy Louise (Tim) Callahan of Maumee.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, with the Rev. William C. Haggis II officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery in Crane Township, Paulding County.

Calling hours are from 1-8 p.m. Monday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.

Preferred memorials: Community Health Professionals-Hospice.