Mr. Ellis Howell, USAR, 87, of Higgston, died Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia, after an extended illness.  He was a native of the Center Community, attended Center School, and was a 1952 graduate of Vidalia High School.  He had a brief career with the Georgia DOT.  In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning several medals and awards.  He retired in 1974 as a First Sergeant.  Soon after his military service, Mr. Howell resumed a career as a rodman for surveying road construction with the Georgia Department of Transportation.  He was a member and deacon of the First Assembly of God, serving in various roles, including superintendent, church board of directors, and Sunday school teacher.  He is preceded in death by his parents, James Thomas Howell, Sr. and Stella McNair Howell; stepmother, Erline Taylor Howell; two sisters, Eulene Westberry and Joy Fay Wood; and two brothers, James Howell, Jr. and John Howell;.

His family includes his wife of sixty-three years, Sandra Helms Howell of Higgston; six children, Gina Davis and Keith of Lyons, Timmy Howell and wife Cindy of Tarrytown, Mona Dowd and husband Allen of Lyons, Pam Miller and husband James of Higgston, Julie Harrison and husband Michael of Collinsville, Virginia, and Joey Howell and wife Whitney of Grovetown; nine grandchildren, Jack and Hannah Rountree, Jamie Reese, Jordan Dowd, Lindsey Howell, Rebecca and Colman Miller, Ruth and Sean Markland, Ryan Harrison, Ntsoha Standard and John Standard, Layton Youmans, Jessica Ballanti, and Jenny and Ben Baskett; great-grandchildren, Abigail and Taylor Genereux, Jesse Standard, Maggie Standard, Gunner Rountree, Brantley Rountree, Olivia Howell, Odessa Rountree, Lily Howell, Lilith Baskett, Lawren Baskett, and James Billanti; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be Saturday, September 11th, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Reverend Michael Harrison and Pastor Joe Gabbard officiating.  Burial will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens.  

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.

Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God, 2201 McIntosh St., Vidalia, GA 30474, or to the Community Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475.