Betty Barwick Howard

Betty Jean Barwick Howard graduated to her heavenly home on July 10, 2020, joining her husband of 52 years. Surrounded by “so great a cloud of witnesses,” her family and yorkie continually by her side while battling cancer. She “ran with endurance the race that was set before her, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of her faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Betty was born in Miami, Florida April 2, 1938 to Novell and Pauline (Bost) Barwick. During the war, the family moved to Oakridge, Tennessee for a season while her father, an electronics engineer and jack-all-trades, worked on a top secret project, the Manhattan Project. Although she was very young at the time, she has fond memories of living in this community.

Betty played the flute in the Miami Jackson High School band. The band even traveled to Cuba once to perform! Betty not only participated in many activities in high school but was the leader of many of these. In 1956, she graduated number 6 out of 600 in her class.

During her senior year of high school, she met Robert (Bob) Howard, a medical student at the University of Miami, at church. Before long they become sweethearts. She attended college for one year before they married on December 23, 1957.

Bob joined the Navy as a flight surgeon, and they eventually moved to Jacksonville, FL where they had three daughters, Valerie, Julie, and Marcia. After a few years, Bob left the Navy and moved the family to Orlando, Florida to be close to his parents. Bob established his plastic surgery practice in Orlando.

God and church were a high priority in their marriage. They loved the Lord and were very actively involved in their church. Betty led many ladies’ Bible studies. She also wrote many Bible courses for adults and children.

She returned to college after raising her girls and received her teaching degree. Betty loved teaching, especially the Bible. She also hosted a weekly radio program on WAJL in Orlando for 11 years, was president of Orlando Pro-Family Forum, member of Women for Responsible Legislation, Eagle Forum, and vice chairman of Family Rights Committee.

Betty was passionate about sharing Christ with everyone she met. Her faith and her boldness were an inspiration to many. She was also an avid student of American History, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of America. She wholeheartedly desired to share the Judeo-Christian roots upon which our nation was founded with everyone.

Betty is preceeded in death by her husband, Robert Howard, her parents, Novell and Pauline Barwick, and her brother, Morris Barwick.

She is survived by her children Valerie Rose and her husband, Paul Rose of Tulsa; Julie Dougherty and her husband Ben Dougherty of Kansas City, MO; Marcia Howard of Tulsa; her twelve grandchildren and their spouses and her 4 great grandchildren; and her yorkie, Mr. Snuggles.

In Lieu of Flowers donations may be sent to one of the following :

Plymouth Rock Foundation, PO Box 1040, Plymouth, MA 02362 https://plymrock.org/prf/

American Bible Society, P.O. Box 96812, Washington, D.C. 20090-6812 https://www.americanbible.org

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, MI 49501 https://odb.org


A time for visitation will be held from 9:30 10:30, Friday, July 17, 2020 at the Kirk of the Hills, with funeral services to start immediately after at 10:30. Burial will follow at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma at 2:00 PM.