Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Name“Billy” William Rollins HOWELL 
20,261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell
20,261, William “Billy” Rollins HowellBirthJun 5, 1938, Alamance County, North Carolina2,261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell
DeathJan 23, 2025, Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell
BurialAlamance Memorial Park, 4039 S Church St, Alamance County, North Carolina261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell
FlagsUS Marines
FatherLubie Edward HOWELL
MotherLovill BARE
Obituary Online notes for “Billy” William Rollins HOWELL
1/25/2025
William “Billy” Rollins Howell
June 5, 1938 ~ January 23, 2025 (age 86)
William “Billy” Rollins Howell, 86, of Graham died at his home on January 23, 2025; following several years of declining health.
He was the husband of Connie Baulding Howell, who survives, and the son of Lubie Edward Howell and Lovill Bare Howell Johnson and step-son of Wade Johnson all deceased.
He was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps.
Billy was a truck driver and was known by all of his trucker buddies as “Fireball”. He competed in National Truck Driving Championships and was Champion in the State Truck Driving Championship in 1996. He retired from Burlington Industries after 40 years.
He was a member of The First Baptist Church of Haw River where he served as Chairman of the Deacon Board, Deacon Emeritus, and Sunday school teacher. He loved the Lord, his wife and family, church and friends.
In addition to his wife of sixty-three years, survivors include four daughters, Kim Marks of Burlington, and her fiancé Brent Slaughter of Westfield; Donna Groce, and husband Wayne Groce of Silk Hope; Carolyn Hamby of Cary; and Suzi Pickard, and husband Don, of Gibsonville; five grandchildren, Victoria Hamby of Charlotte; Hannah Marks, of Burlington and fiancé Michael Malta of Burlington; Meredith LaSpaluto, and husband Ben LaSpaluto of Chapel Hill; Billy Don Pickard, of Gibsonville; and Blake Pickard of Graham; one brother, Don Johnson and wife Ann Johnson of Bear Creek; and one step-sister Kathryn Frazier of Liberty.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Howell; his mother, Lovill Bare Howell Johnson; his step-father, Wade Johnson; one half-brother, Gary Johnson; two step-sisters, Doris Ellington, Linda Sipe; and five step-brothers, Warren Johnson, Hugh Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Glenn Johnson and Herbert Johnson.
The funeral service will be conducted at First Baptist Church of Haw River on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. by Pastor Justin Stevers and Pastor Walter Jones. Burial will follow in Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Haw River from 11:00 am to 12:00 p.m. prior to the funeral services. At other times they will be at the residence.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Alamance-Caswell for all the loving care and support during the past few months.
Memorials may be made to AuthoraCare Hospice or to the First Baptist Church of Haw River, NC 27258.
Condolences may be offered at Rich and Thompson Funeral Service and Cremation Service. 261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell
William “Billy” Rollins Howell
June 5, 1938 ~ January 23, 2025 (age 86)
William “Billy” Rollins Howell, 86, of Graham died at his home on January 23, 2025; following several years of declining health.
He was the husband of Connie Baulding Howell, who survives, and the son of Lubie Edward Howell and Lovill Bare Howell Johnson and step-son of Wade Johnson all deceased.
He was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps.
Billy was a truck driver and was known by all of his trucker buddies as “Fireball”. He competed in National Truck Driving Championships and was Champion in the State Truck Driving Championship in 1996. He retired from Burlington Industries after 40 years.
He was a member of The First Baptist Church of Haw River where he served as Chairman of the Deacon Board, Deacon Emeritus, and Sunday school teacher. He loved the Lord, his wife and family, church and friends.
In addition to his wife of sixty-three years, survivors include four daughters, Kim Marks of Burlington, and her fiancé Brent Slaughter of Westfield; Donna Groce, and husband Wayne Groce of Silk Hope; Carolyn Hamby of Cary; and Suzi Pickard, and husband Don, of Gibsonville; five grandchildren, Victoria Hamby of Charlotte; Hannah Marks, of Burlington and fiancé Michael Malta of Burlington; Meredith LaSpaluto, and husband Ben LaSpaluto of Chapel Hill; Billy Don Pickard, of Gibsonville; and Blake Pickard of Graham; one brother, Don Johnson and wife Ann Johnson of Bear Creek; and one step-sister Kathryn Frazier of Liberty.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Howell; his mother, Lovill Bare Howell Johnson; his step-father, Wade Johnson; one half-brother, Gary Johnson; two step-sisters, Doris Ellington, Linda Sipe; and five step-brothers, Warren Johnson, Hugh Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Glenn Johnson and Herbert Johnson.
The funeral service will be conducted at First Baptist Church of Haw River on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. by Pastor Justin Stevers and Pastor Walter Jones. Burial will follow in Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Haw River from 11:00 am to 12:00 p.m. prior to the funeral services. At other times they will be at the residence.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Alamance-Caswell for all the loving care and support during the past few months.
Memorials may be made to AuthoraCare Hospice or to the First Baptist Church of Haw River, NC 27258.
Condolences may be offered at Rich and Thompson Funeral Service and Cremation Service. 261, William “Billy” Rollins Howell