Born: Aug. 14, 1935

Died: Sept. 12, 2013

Wilma Gae Howard, 78, of Niles, passed away at Riverridge Manor in Niles on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Wilma was born on Aug. 14, 1935 to the late Gerald and Marion (Carlisle) Steinbarger in Niles.  After school Wilma wed Bobby Joe Howard on May 1, 1954 in Niles, Mich. Together they had six children.  In her free time Wilma enjoyed crocheting, traveling with her husband in their motorhome, fishing, hunting for morel mushrooms and cooking large family dinners.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bobby Joe Howard, son Douglas Howard and siblings Dennis Steinbarger and Juanita Adams.

Wilma is survived by her children Dawn Duval of Niles, Gregory (Lavonne) Howard of Mishawaka, Ind., Heath (Brandy) Howard of Michigan City, Ind., Tiffany Howard of Niles, Chad Howard of Niles, grandchildren Kyle (Courtney) Duval of Mishawaka, Brandon Duval of South Bend, Ind. and John (Marti) Fisher of St. Joseph, Mich., 6 great grandchildren and a host of friends and other family members.

A time of visitation will be held at Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle in Buchanan on Monday, September 16, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with funeral services beginning at noon.  Wilma will be interred at Daily Cemetery next to her son, Doug.

Memorial contributions may be made in Wilma’s memory to her family for a joint headstone for Wilma and Doug.  Donations may be sent in Wilma’s memory to Brown Funeral Home, In Care of Mrs. Howard, 521 East Main Street; Niles, Michigan 49120.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.