Howard T. Bumgarner

Howard T. Bumgarner, 82 died Wednesday, May 04, 2011, following a period of declining health. He was born in McDowell County on September 10, 1928 and was a son of the late Ivey Patton Bumgarner and Vera Rhyne Bumgarner. Mr. Bumgarner was a U. S. Army veteran and a retired employee of Drexel-Heritage Furnishings. Howard was also a faithful member of Zion Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.Surviving are his wife, Frances Southerland Bumgarner, of the home; son, Howard James Bumgarner and his wife, Faye Acuff; daughter, Rev. April Bumgarner Abernethy and her husband, John B. Abernethy, Jr. all of Morganton; grandsons, John B. Abernethy, III, James Abernethy, Josh Rhodes, and Graham Rhodes; brothers, Ivey R. Bumgarner and wife, Edna, of Connelly Springs and Herman J. Bumgarner and wife, Bessie of Lenoir; sisters, Sue B. Southerland of Connelly Springs and Doris B. Norman and husband, Lewis of Newton; and a number of nieces and nephews.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Steve Parker and Rev. Dr. Ralph May officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home & Crematory Center is assisting the family.