Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL

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  • Isabel Howard

    Isabel Howard

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October 25, 2011

Isabel Howard

Effingham Daily News

RIVERTON — Isabel E. Howard of Riverton died peacefully Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, in the home of her grandson and granddaughter, Sam and Diana Mathews of Otterville, Mo.

    A memorial celebration of Isabel’s life will be held at noon Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Stewardson Civic Center, Stewardson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward a fund reforesting a small patch of land in Isabel’s honor at Pike County.

    She was born in 1918 in Shelby County, the daughter of Royal Edward and Frances Dott Rankin.

    She fondly reminisced about the family farm and how everyone in the family worked together. She loved to dance and could polka with the best of them. Her greatest loves were her family and Pike County, where she attended every deer camp, four-wheeling in her 90s and taking rides in the pickup tallying the numerous deer. She was a true beauty inside and out and a good neighbor who looked out for many, especially the children.

    Isabel’s first job was at Chuck’s Ice Cream in Shelbyville. She worked at the Sangamon Ordinance Plant in Illiopolis during the 1940s as a WOW (Woman Ordinance Worker) during World War II. She worked for the state of Illinois for many years before becoming a tour guide at the Old State Capital until her retirement. Isabel was well versed in the history of our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, conducting countless tours for thousands of school children from all over the state and beyond. 

    She was a loving mother, Grandma Mocko and Grandma Bel, great- and great-great-grandmother, sister and Aunt Bel to numerous nieces and nephews who survive her.

    She is survived by sons, Robert Mathews of Stewardson and Carl Mathews of Rockport; grandchildren, Kimberly Wallace of Stewardson, Sam (wife, Diana) Mathews, Terry Starks of Big Lake, Maine, and Robert E. Mathews of Key West, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Brooke (Donnie) Durbin of Mode, Rhiannon (Shane) Klier of Newton, Emma Mourey of Riverton, Mathew Fowler of Williamsville, Lily Fowler of Williamsville and Marina Mathews of Otterville Mo.; great-great grandson, Dane Durbin of Mode; sister, Imogene Renfro of Stewardson; and brother, Allen “Bus” (Juanita) Rankin of Strasburg.

    She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gene Rankin (Maxine); daughter-in-law, Louella Mathews; nieces, Pat Lading and Janet Schultz; and her beloved Beau.

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