The family of Darlene Woody Howard will host a gathering of family and friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Graveside services will follow on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park. Darlene went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 19, 2023. Please view the floral purchases and an area to share stories of Mrs. Howard with her family and friends on this page.
Darlene Woody Howard was born December 5, 1948, to Thomas and Lydia (Wynn) Jordan in Levelland, Texas. She married Leon Howard on March 14, 1998, in Lubbock, Texas.
Darlene was a lifelong resident of Lubbock. As a single mom raising three sons, she worked as a bookkeeper at Hillcrest Country Club and later as a property manager for McDougal Companies. Beginning in 1998, she and Leon worked together for the rest of their careers. While serving at Texas Boys Ranch, they fostered fifty boys and may still hold the record for longest-serving house parents. They both completed their working careers as bus drivers, retiring from Citibus to start a new journey of travel and relaxation. Darlene was an avid collector of pigs. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, as well as their church family and her friends from Redbud Lions Club.
Mrs. Howard is survived by her husband, Leon Howard; sons, Paul (Sarah) Woody III and Jeff (Renaie) Woody; stepchildren, Ronald Shelton, Victor Howard, Jr., Kym (Neil Seymour) Howard, and Eric Howard; twenty-three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Tommy (Vickie) Jordan; sister, Clara (Royce) Glenn; nephew, Shawn Jordan; and niece, Sheresa (Brian) Lee.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Lydia Jordan; her son, David Woody; and her stepchildren, Minnie Durfee and Brad Howard.
The family of Darlene suggests memorial donations to the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch at https://txgbr.org or Faith Baptist Church, 6002 66th Street, Lubbock, Texas, 79424, in her memory.
To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Darlene "Bema" Woody Howard, please visit our Tribute Store.
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