Layton N. Howell

Layton N. Howell, Sr., 82, passed away Saturday at UT Medical Center. He was born Aug. 24, 1923, and spent the majority of his life in Knoxville. Mr. Howell was married to Alliene Burleson on Feb. 24, 1946. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII as an air traffic controller, where he developed a life-long love of flying, amassing over 5,000 hours of flight time over the next 40 years. He was a flight instructor for many students in the 1970s and 1980s. Mr. Howell joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1950 as an engineer and retired in 1982. After retirement, he was an adjunct math professor and tutor at Pellissippi State Community College for 10 years and was named Teacher of the Year by his students and peers in 2000. In later years, Mr. and Mrs. Howell became avid RVers, joining several area RV Clubs and traveling all over the Southeast. Mr. Howell began battling cancer in 1999 under the excellent care of Dr. Wahid Hanna and the caring nursing staff at UT Hospital 6-East. His journey to recovery had peaks and valleys and ended peacefully on Jan. 21, 2006. He was preceeded in death by his parents, Richard and Hazel Seaton Howell, and two sisters, Betty Rudder and Marian Lewis. He is survived by his loving wife, Alliene Burleson Howell of Seymour; stepmother, Effie Howell of Trussville, Ala.; stepsister, Pat R. Tuggle of Trussville, Ala.; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Steve Major of Lilburn, Ga.; son and daughter-in-law, Neville and Sherri Howell of Knoxville; grandsons and spouses, Van and Laurie Major of Coral Springs, Fla.; Courtney and Lisa Major of Cumming, Ga.; grandsons Trey Howell and Brett Howell of Knoxville; and great-grandsons, Jackson and Gavin Major of Coral Springs, Fla. The family will receive friends at Berry Funeral Home at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, with a memorial service to follow at 4:30 at the Berry Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Rob Williamson of Eusebia Prebyterian Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mobile Meals of Knoxville.