Josephine M. Howard

Josie was born in Middletown, Ohio on July 2, 1942. Her early years were spent joining her family in attending church and a variety of activities offered at the Salvation Army. It’s here that she began her lifelong relationship with the Lord. God had big plans for Josie and not too long after her graduation from Middletown High School, she began her journey into a life of service by taking a position at the Salvation Army Cincinnati Citadel Corp as a corps helper.

In 1967, she answered the call for full time Christian service. She left Middletown for the Salvation Army School for Officers Training in New York and joined the class that was aptly named the Evangelists. She was commissioned in 1969 as a Salvation Army officer and started a lifetime of doing God’s work where ever the Salvation Army needed her.

She started as an Assistant Officer in Allentown, PA and then moved to Columbus, OH. Her Third move found her in Athens, OH where she began as the Assistant but was ultimately promoted to the position of Corps Officer in Charge. Her next assignment took her to Bucyrus, OH where she had also completed her summer assignment during training school. It was after this assignment that Josie then took a short break as and officer and became the Pastor of the Garfield Memorial Church of Christ in Gibsonburg, OH for 3 1/2 years. She returned to the Salvation Army as a Corps Officer and served for a total of 34 1/2 years in 5 different assignments in Puxatawney, PA; Barberton, OH; Monesson, PA; Franklin, PA and finally Pittsburgh East Liberty.

In June of 2006, after her 34 1/2 years of service, she retired as an officer but continued to serve where needed in her new home corps in Irmo, South Carolina that she shared with her longtime friend and assistant, Faith Hasco. After several years of enjoying the mild weather in South Carolina, Josie decided to brave the colder temperatures of the north and return to her hometown of Middletown, Ohio. Here she rekindled relationships with family members and friends and made new dear friends.

Josie still wasn’t done serving and immediately stepped in to provide whatever support she could to the Salvation Army Corp in Middletown, especially during the busy Christmas season. As hard as Josie worked, she still made time for leisure activities. Faith and Josie shared a love for crafting and sewing. This interest ultimately lead to Josie setting up a sewing room in the Middletown Corps with the hopes of sharing her interest and teaching others the art of sewing.

Josephine Marie Howard was Promoted to Glory on 1/26/22 at the age of 79 surrounded by a small group of friends and family. Josie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Elhanan and Adelaide Ellen (Hill) Howard and her sister, Ruth Ellen Howard. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Ernest and Marilyn Howard Sr. and multiple cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army of Middletown at 1914 First Ave., Middletown, Ohio

A memorial service will be held at the Salvation Army at 1914 First Ave, Middletown, Ohio on February 19, 2022. 11-12 visitation, 12-1 memorial service. Light refreshments to follow the service.