Daniel “Dan” Leroy Howerton of Ponca City, Oklahoma was born May 6, 1948 to Sarah Alice Roberts and Franklin Evanda “Vandy” Howerton in Osceola, Missouri. He passed away on March 9, 2017.
Growing up Dan enjoyed fishing, working on and driving fast cars. He was drafted into the United State Army in December of 1967 during the Vietnam War. He became a mechanic in the Army. Dan could fix anything that moved on the ground. He was honorably discharged in December of 1970 and went on to become a fire fighter for the Ponca City Fire Department. In years past, his passion and love for the fire department and the years he served as a firefighter was obvious to all when he’d speak of that period in his life. After 10+ years of service he suffered a heart attack on the job and was medically retired from the Ponca City Fire Department on June 1, 1991.
Dan met Linda D. Smith in February of 1992. Knowing tomorrow is never a guarantee they made the decision in November of that same year to join households and start out upon an adventure of a lifetime together. Twenty-four years later, their adventures included all of the ups and downs of life: births, deaths, holidays, vacations, local and long distance fishing trips, travel and sightseeing, wood crafts, hunting antiques and vintage clothing. Simply enjoying each and every day they were given together, taking none for granted.
He is survived by his common-law-wife, Linda D. Smith; daughter, Valerie Nelson and husband, Rick; stepdaughter, Lisa M. Proctor and husband, Thomas; stepson, Rodney Brewer and wife Sheila; his grandchildren, Coren Rath, Victoria Derrig and husband Christopher, Kristen McVay-Adams, Brigette McBride, Paige Proctor, Mina Proctor; five great-grandchildren; siblings, Robert “Bob” Howerton and wife Anna Mae, Irene Wilson, William “Bill” Howerton, Richard Howerton and his wife Janice, Thomas “Tom” Howerton, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dan was preceded in death by a sister and his parents.
Graveside services will be Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 11 AM at the Osceola Cemetery under the direction of Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home.
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