Mr. Charlie “Holt” Howell, 87, of NC 801, Mocksville, died on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 at his home.

He was born June 22, 1930 in Davie County to the late Batra and Irene Baity Howell. Holt was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church. He attended Farmington School where he left at Christmas, before graduating, to join the US Air Force. He served two years as a sharp-shooter, and was discharged one day before war was declared on Korea. He returned to Davie County and operated a country store for several years. He drove an 18-wheeler with Glen Howard for two years before purchasing his own truck. He then drove over three million miles in 28 years as an owner-operator. In 1981, he was contacted by the Davie County Sheriff Department about becoming a deputy. He served as fire chief in the Smith Grove Volunteer Fire Dept. in 1975, 1980, and in 1981. Because of education requirements he took classes and received his GED at the age of 50. He went on to become a civil execution officer in 1987, achieved the rank of captain in 1994 and retired, as bailiff, in 2007. In April of 2005 he met the love of his life, Pauline “Peggy” Miller, and they married soon after. They spent several years traveling, visiting places such as South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania Amish country, Pigeon Forge (several times a year), Gatlinburg and a special trip to West Virginia where they rode on a train where dinner was prepared and served on the train. During the past three years, his health declined and his wife became his care giver with the help of a few special people: Jimmy, Sonia, Mark, Tommie, Jessica, Brandy, and Angie Hall.

He was also preceded in death by a 4-year-old sister, and his canine companion, Charlie.

Surviving: his wife, Pauline “Peggy” Howell; his daughter, Kathy (Patrick) Miller; his son, Ronald (Jody) Howell; step-daughters, Shelia (James) McKinney, Tommie (Mark) Doby; grandchildren, Suzanne (Bryan) Lakey, Matthew (Laura) Miller, Stephanie (Shannon) Mathis; step-grandchildren, Valorie (Tommy) Donadio, Kristen (Josh) Morris, Tyler (Kacey) McKinney, Brittany Gore, Brandy Doby, Mandy (Chris) Jarvis, Courtney Doby, Thomas Harris; great-grandchildren, Annabelle, Brooklyn, Calleigh Grace, and Stella Lakey, Caleb, Connor, and Aubree Mathis; step-great-grandchildren, John (Kathryn) Benson, Ashlyn (Spencer) Benson, Nicholas Donadio, Victoria Donadio, Logan and Lydia Morris, Cadence Beaver, Lukas Beaver, Daphne Stanley, Hannah Jones, Tristin Jarvis, and Willow Jarvis.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. His funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the Gentry Family Chapel by the Rev. Billy Seats. Burial will follow in Bethlehem United Methodist Church cemetery with Full Military Honors by Yadkin VFW Post 10346 and US Air Force Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Jamey Phipps, Allen Whitaker, Jeff Shore, Justin Phipps, Shannon Mathis, Tommy Howard. Honorary pallbearers  Mark Doby, Jimmy Phipps, and Josh Morris will wear a red rose and a tie that belonged to Mr. Howell.

Condolences: www.gentryfuneralservice.com.