RICHFORD – Elizabeth Prue Howarth, age 95, passed away on Tuesday evening June 27, 2017 at Our Lady of the Meadows Community Care Home in Richford.
Elizabeth was born July 12, 1921 at her parents home in Richford. She was the youngest daughter of James & Helen (Owen) Prue.
She attended school in Richford until the beginning of her sophomore year when she traveled to California with her parents to be with her brother Irving, who was an accomplished glider. Upon reaching California Liz enrolled in Glendale High School and graduated in 1939. She then attended Glendale Secretarial Prep School. During this time, she met and married Chester Warren Zebott, a Minnesota native. Warren was an attendee of Aero Industries Technical Institute, and later was hired by them to be an instructor. To further his education and job opportunities he moved to California. During this time Elizabeth’s parents returned to Vermont. In June of 1944 Warren became ill; he and Elizabeth went to Minnesota to be surrounded by his family where he passed away.
Elizabeth returned to Vermont and stayed with her parents until October of 1944. With an invitation from her brother and his wife Ruth, an old classmate and good friend of Elizabeth, she moved back to California to join them. She sought employments shortly after arriving and was hired by the Automobile Club of Southern California District Office in Glendale as a Secretary to the Claims Adjuster.
In 1945 Elizabeth was called to Vermont by her father to care for her mother dying of cancer. During this time, she met Robert James Howarth, and after her mother’s death, they became married. The marriage lasted fifty-five years and three children; Dean, Judy & Stacy. Robert passed away in 2001.
Elizabeth enjoyed many activities during her lifetime including, golfing, gardening, knitting, tole painting, and spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She leaves her family, which she loved dearly. Two daughters; Judith “Judy” Holden of Soap Lake, WA, and Stacy Wells and her husband Randall of Enosburgh, VT; Four grandchildren and four great grandchildren; James Howarth his wife Danielle and their son William of Enosburgh, VT, Ryan Wells his wife Jaimi and their children, Alexandra & Colton of East Fairfield, VT, Samuel Burroughs of Bellingham, WA, and Shila Sylvester her husband Bradley and their daughter Anaya of Highgate, VT. She also leaves a special nephew, Marty Prue his wife Sue and their family of Highland, TX.
Elizabeth was predeceased by her two-year-old brother, Milo in Kansas; her grandson, Dana Howarth; her sister, Mildred Douglas; her brother, Irving O. Prue; and her son Dean Michael Howarth on May 16, 2017.
A graveside service will be held Monday July 3, 2017 at 12:00 PM at the Richford Center Cemetery, South Richford Road, Richford VT with Pastor Patrick Hoadley officiating. There will be no visiting hours.
For those who wish, contributions in Elizabeth’s memory may be made to the Richford Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 236, Richford, VT 05476.
