James Robert Howerton

Dr. James R. Howerton of Bermuda Run, NC passed away on Friday, August 2, 2013. Dr. Howerton was born on October 29th, 1927 in Knox County, Tennessee to Perry Doddridge Howerton and Elizabeth Colyer Howerton. He was the grandson of philosopher and theologian, James Robert Howerton, of Charlotte, NC. Jim lived life fully and passionately. He enjoyed time with his family and friends. He loved boating, photography, and traveling the country in his RV. He served in the US Army Air Corp during World War II. Upon discharge he worked his way through college, University of Tennessee, Knoxville and medical school, University of Tennessee, Memphis. It was in Memphis that he met the love of his life, Gretchen Mars, a physical therapist from Philadelphia, Mississippi. Upon his graduation they wed and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina where Dr. Howerton served a one year general internship at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. In preparation for further postgraduate training the couple relocated to Columbia, North Carolina where they expected to spend one to two years gaining experience and resources. Instead, this wonderful community captured their hearts and they spent a decade there where Dr. Howerton provided comprehensive care to Tyrrell County as the sole physician and also ran the Columbia Hospital. Fulfilling an earlier ambition he did return to further postgraduate training, first at Norfolk General Hospital and then Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. The family then settled in Newport News, Virginia where Dr. Howerton entered the private practice of psychiatry and served as an active member of the medical community in the Tidewater of Virginia for more than thirty years. The couple relocated to Bermuda Run upon retirement. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Perry Howerton. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gretchen Howerton, their children, daughter Todd Leah Towell of Boulder, Colorado (husband Tim Towell) and son Russell Mars Howerton of Advance, NC (wife Pam Massengill Howerton), grandchildren Jennifer Furches (Roman Coppola), of San Francisco, Amanda Furches (Marcus Herring) of Los Angeles, Zoe Howerton and Gwyneth Howerton of Advance, great-grandchildren Pascale Coppola and Marcello Coppola, both of San Francisco, his sister Mary Briones (Dr. Jose Briones) of Fayetteville, Georgia and his brother Leigh Howerton of Knoxville, Tennessee, multiple nieces and nephews, and dear family friends Gay and Waverly Phelps and their family. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service at Bermuda Village Main Hall at 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation Gift Processing Center PO Box 5018 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.



Visitation:
Bermuda Village Main Hall

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