Clara Howell Needham

Clara Ellen Howell Needham 92, of Givens Estates passed away Sunday, September 2, 2012. Born in Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Rev. David Vane Howell and Maggie Jaynes Howell. Clara graduated from Asheville Teachers College, and she taught Elementary Education during her 23 year teaching career. She was a very active church member with several United Methodist Churches in the Western NC Methodist Conference where her late husband, the Rev. George H. Needham, was appointed as pastor. They shared experiences in Germany and Europe while her husband served in the Chaplaincy of the United States Army. In addition to her parents and husband, Clara was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Sandra Lynn Needham and Leslie Elaine Needham; one brother, J. Hugh Howell and sisters, Ruth H. Johnson and Lucile H. Hunt. She is survived by a son, Harlan Needham of Hurdle Mills, NC; a daughter, Ellen D. Needham of Morganton; sister, Martha H. Hanson of La Crosse, WI; several nieces and nephews and their families. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday in Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville with a memorial service scheduled at 2:00 pm in the Wesley Room at Givens Health Center. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), PO Box 9068, New York, NY 20087 or to CarePartners Foundation, Attn:Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.