John Howell

Waynesville, John Cullen Howell, "Johnny/Doc," age 63, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2015 at Memorial Mission Hospital. He was surrounded by family and friends. Born June 7, 1951 in St. Augustine Florida, Johnny was the son of the late Edith Morgan Howell and Matt Denmark Howell. He was preceded in death by his beloved older brother, Ted Howell. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jean Worsham Howell; son, John "Cullen" Howell, Jr. and wife, Kristin; daughter, Jennifer (Jenny) Ruth Howell Baldwin and her husband, Mark; step-mother, Ruth Robeson Kirkpatrick Howell; mother-in-law, Ruth Burgin Worsham; five grandchildren, Makenna, Jake, Sam, Emily and Wes; two sisters, Susan Gallion and her husband, Bob, and Becky Prevost; two step-brothers, Weaver Kirkpatrick and his wife, Brenda, and Robby Kirkpatrick and his wife, Beverly; and numerous extended family members and wonderful friends. Johnny was raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and moved to Waynesville when he was in third grade, where he acquired a new family, a brand new hometown and a sweetheart for life. He was a standout athlete at Tuscola High School, graduating in 1969. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a football scholarship and graduated from Western Carolina in 1973 with a degree in Business Administration. Early in his professional career, he worked locally at Massie Furniture Company and opened an ice cream parlor in the Massie Mini-Mall on Main Street called Doc's Dips and Delicatessen. He was also the System Manager for Sammons Communications, the local cable provider. "Doc," which was short for "doctor of all knowledge," was a sarcastic family nickname originally given to Johnny to sum up his precocious opinions as a know-it-all. His grandchildren adopted this nickname because it sounded just right in combination with their grandmother, "Jema." Johnny's family moved to Winston-Salem and then Marietta, Georgia in the 1980s where he continued his advancing career in Cable Television, working as a manager for Summit Cable and eventually Bellsouth. He retired from Bellsouth in 2001 and began a second career as an independent consultant in the telecommunications industry, traveling throughout the southeast to negotiate franchising rights for towns and municipalities. He and Jean moved back to Waynesville in 2002 to re-settle in Iron Duff where he founded and constantly renovated Johnny's World, a grandkid's Shangri-la with pond, pool table, hot tub, zip-line, 4-wheel gator rides and a short-order breakfast. Johnny was an active member of First Baptist Church in Waynesville, teaching Sunday-School, playing in the worship band, and serving on numerous committees. He volunteered locally at community events and enjoyed organizing and hosting many get-togethers, class reunions and family reunions, often in 'Howell Holler.' He was also a lifelong blood donor. Johnny tirelessly enjoyed his retirement as an avid golfer, motivated mower, project doer, doting grandfather and adventure traveler. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Robert Prince and Reverend Dr. Jack C. Bishop officiating. The family will greet friends at a reception on Wednesday, February 25 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Wells Events and Reception Center. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, 100 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC 28804 or First Baptist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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