Marcella Marie Howard

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Marcella M. Howard, beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great- grandmother departed to be with the Lord on October 27, 2021. Marcella was born in Indianapolis to Prentiss and Juanita Eastham on February 18, 1938. She attended Ben Davis High School and remained active in her class’ (the ’56ers) activities.

She married Herbert L. Howard on June 17, 1955 and remained by his side until his passing in January 2021. She shared Herb’s deep faith and served alongside him at Lifegate Baptist Church, and later at Chapel Rock Christian Church. She was generous, giving to a number of causes, including cancer research, wildlife foundations, veteran and police support funds, Speedway Scholars, and Native American schools.

Marcella was very crafty, and donated her time and talents as well, making many quilts, decorations, and ornaments to sell at fundraisers for Riley Cancer Research Center and Ben Davis High School, and as gifts for veterans at the V.A. hospital. She loved making holiday decorations, and each holiday throughout the year saw her house adorned inside and out for the appropriate festivities, and she was always ready to welcome friends, family, and strangers alike with cookies, supper, and conversation. When she wasn’t entertaining, she was out having fun with her friends in the Red Hat Society or the bowling league.

She loved music and sang in the church choir as well as supporting the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. She also enjoyed attending school band and choir performances, especially if her great-grandchildren were performing!

Though Marcella did work for a time at Jockish Flowers and Flanner Buchanan – Speedway Funeral Home, she was most proud of her role as homemaker for Herb and their two sons. When she wasn’t spending time in the kitchen or the yard, she enjoyed traveling with Herb, especially out west. They adventured across the country by car or plane (and sometimes motorcycle) from the redwood forests of California, the mountains of Wyoming, the Southwest Desert, to the deep south and up to Nova Scotia. They even made a trip to Europe to see where Herb had served in the Army. Her love of travel enhanced her love of her country, and she always proudly flew the American flag wherever she went.

As much as she loved to travel, she still loved best spending time at home with her great-grandchildren, going on trips to the zoo, the museum, and the pumpkin patch.

She was preceded in death by her father Prentiss, niece Lara Nutty, stepfather Charlie Fugate, mother Juanita, sister Evelyn (Jim) Higgins, and husband Herb. She is survived by her brothers Prentiss and David Eastham, sister Anna Mae (Lanny) Nutty, sons Jeff and Greg, grandson Adam (Alicia), great-grandsons Josh and Daniel, and great-granddaughter Evelyn (Dayton) Mulry.

Marcella will be laid to rest with Herb at Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Riley Children’s foundation at www.rileykids.org.