Virginia Lee Howell, age 93, of Kingston, Missouri, passed away Sunday evening, August 25, 2024, at her home in Kingston. Virginia was born on September 3, 1930, the daughter of JD and Effie (Cravens) Edwards in Cowgill, Missouri. She grew up in Cowgill and attended Cowgill Elementary School. Virginia graduated from Polo High School in 1948. She married Jim Howell on April 9, 1950, in Hamilton, Missouri.
In addition to being a homemaker, farm wife, mother, and grandmother, she worked at the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) office and the extension office in Caldwell County. She was a longtime and faithful member of Polo Community Church, formerly Polo United Methodist Church. She loved her church and supported it in every way. Virginia served in various leadership roles at the church and was active in United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the Caldwell County Historical Society and the Kingston Community Betterment Committee. Virginia served as an election judge and was inducted into the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame in 2014 for her many years of service.
Virginia was known for taking care of everyone and everything; she was the matriarch of her family. Family was everything to her, and she will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years, Jim; her daughter, Sharon Howell; and her brothers, Dean and Leon Edwards. She is survived by her son, Ed Howell of Polo, Missouri; grandchildren, Randy Howell (Angie) of Polo, Missouri, Tracy Clancy (Chad) of Polo, Missouri, and Wendy Hall (Brock) of Liberty, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Keegan, Lucas, Kaylee, Palmer, Cooper, Brandon, and Kirsten; nieces, Sue DiMartino (Anthony) of Grain Valley, Missouri, and Ann Weigel (Rick) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; nephews, Wally Edwards of Jackson, Wyoming, and Steve Edwards (Teresa) of Kansas City, Missouri; niece, Karen Wooster of San Antonio, Texas; along with other extended family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Polo Community Church or the Caldwell County Historical Society, in care of the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Polo Community Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the evening prior, at Stith Funeral Home in Polo. Friends may call after 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow the services at Kingston Cemetery in Kingston, Missouri. Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Stith Funeral Home in Polo, (660) 354-2214.
