Birdie Lea (Wallen) Howard

Birdie Lea Howard, 83, of Marion, OH, gained her angel wings and went to be with her husband on June 29, 2025. Birdie was born to her late parents, Rhoda Frazier and Earl Wallen on December 14, 1941, in Floyd County, KY.

Birdie worked as an assembler for the Core Systems (Ohio Arudle) in Mt. Gilead, OH for 36 years. Her and Billy Howard were married for 58 years before his passing. Birdie was a woman of faith and enjoyed her Gospel. She was also a family woman. She loved her family and cooking for them. No family reunion was complete without her soup beans and cornbread. It never failed that she always had a towel on her shoulder. She enjoyed gardening and canning whatever she grew. Besides that, she was an avid Kentucky Wildcats, Cincinnati Reds, and The Ohio State Buckeyes. She always was a bit of a card player and loved Uno and Rook.

Birdie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Billy Howard, Sr., her daughter Debbie Reed, her siblings, Glidden Wallen, Janice Goble, Delois Smith, Jean Combs, and Zelma Gay, her grandchild, Keona.

She is survived by her son, Bill (Lisa) Howard, daughter, Sandra (Tony) Hall (Howard), son-in-law, Doyle (Debbie dcd.) Reed, brothers, Jackie and Tom (Ronda) Wallen, sisters, Wilma Patrick, Marcella (Fred) Kaupp, Thelma (Brad) Booth, Louise (Tim dcd.) Zaremba, grandchildren, Alexia, Bryan, Brandon (Kayleigh), Brock (Violet), Roshaun (Mackenzie), and Michael (Alexis), 14 great grandchildren, 3 bonus grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her special friend, Marilyn Glenn.

The Howard family invites all friends and family to the Marion Enterprise Baptist Church on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral service will start at 1 p.m. Immediately following the service there will be an interment at the Grand Prairie Cemetery. Pastor Brent Layne will be officiating all services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to T.V. 39 David R. Aiken Broadcasting Media Complex.

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