Palestine, Texas - Funeral services for Mr. Donnie "Pepaw" Howard, 79, of Palestine, will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Roquemore Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Joe Best officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home in Henderson.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Friday at the church.

Prior to the services in Henderson, a Celebration of Life service for Mr. Howard will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Bassett Road Baptist Church in Palestine.

Mr. Howard passed away January 13, 2026, at his residence. He was born January 22, 1946, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Vern and Rose (Caudle) Howard. Mr. Howard made Palestine his home since the late seventies, working for and retiring from Westwood Elementary after twenty-three years. God called him to preach the Gospel and he answered the call sixty-four years ago. He came to Henderson to attend Texas Baptist Institute and met the love of his life, Glenda Hand at Roquemore Missionary Baptist Church. He pastored six churches prior to moving to Palestine, he became the pastor at Bassett Road Baptist Church in 1980 and continued as the pastor until his passing. Mr. Howard enjoyed working on cars, building houses, and helping as many people as he could with Texas Mission Builders. He also served the members of his community as the president of the Four Pines Water Board for many years. Mr. Howard found that the greatest joy in his life came from spending time with his family.

Mr. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Rose Howard; wife of fifty-four years, Glenda Hand; mother and father-in-law, Estelle and Preston Hand; two brothers, and two sisters.

Survivors include his daughters, Lynde Cheek and husband Ron, Leanna Roseberry and husband Byron; grandchildren, Bobby Ray Mayo and wife Cheyanne, Billy Ray Howard and wife Mary, Rose Howard and husband Preston, Courtney Roseberry, Kaylee Rae Roseberry; great-grandchildren, Braighlyn Mayo, Gracelyn Mayo, Shaelyn Mayo, Waylyn Mayo, Donnie Wardell, Sam "Sambo" Vickery, Adeline Rae Howard; brothers, Raymond "Ray" Howard and wife Mary, Johnny Howard and wife Diane; sisters-in-law, Reba Howard, Juanita Howard, Carol Best and husband David, Cathy Pride and husband John, Gail Gibson and husband Bill; brother-in-law, Frank Gregory, Kevin Hand and wife Sharla; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family, and friends, along with many "adopted" and "foster" grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Billy Howard, Bobby Mayo, Braighlyn Mayo, Ron Cheek, Byron Roseberry, and Preston Christensen. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either The Texas Oncology Foundation, PO Box 515013, Dallas, TX 75251 of Texas Mission Builders, Texas Mission Builders P.O. Box 287, Huntington, TX 75949.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.