George Earl Howard

George Earl Howard, 93, of Wilson passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The family will receive friends Friday afternoon, June 12, 2026, from 1:00 – 1:45 pm with a service to follow at 2:00 pm at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson. John Turner will officiate. George grew up on a farm in Pink Hill, NC and served his nation in the United States Coast Guard and the Auxiliary before getting his undergraduate degree from East Carolina Teacher’s College (now East Carolina University from which all four of his children and three of his grandchildren later graduated). He earned his Master’s Degree from North Carolina State University. He married Virginia Aiken, and they raised four children.

Valuing education, George began his lifelong career with the NC Community College System as an Industrial Arts teacher and worked his way up to Vice President of Wilson Community College before he retired in 1998. Mr. Howard was a very talented woodworker – making toys, furniture and even houses. He loved fishing, gardening and tinkering in his shop. He was a compassionate caregiver to his wife of 56 years for many years when she was ill. They both loved birdwatching and instilling how precious family values are in their children.

As he got older, George enjoyed competing and winning medals in the Senior Games in running and biking, sometimes as the only one to compete in his age group. He and Virginia also enjoyed traveling with his siblings and their spouses.

George is survived by his son, Steven Earl Howard (Karen) of Raleigh; daughters Rebecca Howard Swider of Winston Salem, Lisa Howard Wilson (John) of Raleigh, and Laura Howard Wood (John) of Sims; grandchildren Matthew Howard (Katie), Brit Swider (Todd), Kat Swider (Guillaume), Jeffrey Howard (Meredith), Eric Wilson (Brianne), Christopher Wood, Rachel Wilson, and Sarah Wood; and great grandchildren Ellis, Whitney, Arthur and Miles; special friend Annette Goff of Wilson; sister Frances Howard Williams, (Jimmy) of Mt. Olive; many nieces and nephews and his cherished dog, Oogie, who was always by his side and was a constant source of love and companionship.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Aiken Howard; parents, Earl and Gladys Howard; brother James Odell Howard; sister-in-law Ruby Howard; and son-in-law, Tim Swider.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Along in Years and Hospice of Wilson for their caring support as they tended to his end-of-life needs.

Condolences can be directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.