Katharine Elisabeth Van Buren Howell of Providence, Rhode Island, formerly a resident of Westhampton Beach for 40 years, died May 31. She was 100.
Born February 14, 1913, to Charles and Elvira Van Buren in Englewood, New Jersey, she graduated from Smith College in 1934. She enjoyed gardening, reading The New York Times, history and family and believed in the education of young women, healing prayer and the Episcopal Church; she attended Easter services at the age of 100. She was a Girl Scout administrator and troop leader in New York City and Suffolk County, and a dedicated participant in St. Mark’s Church in Westhampton Beach.
She moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, then Providence, where she was predeceased by her husband, Hampton P. Howell Jr., and by her grandson, Joseph Howell.
She is survived by two sons, Hampton and wife Emily, and Van Buren Howell; a daughter, Margaret Brookner and husband Edward; and five grandchildren, Aliene, Tatiana, Naomi, Luke and Michael.
A brief memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 29 at St. Martin’s in Providence. A longer ceremony will be held at St. Mark’s Church in Westhampton Beach at 2 p.m. on September 14. Interment will be at Westhampton Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Doctors Without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
on Jun 24, 2013