Arthur Howell, 81, Minonk, died at 12:46 p.m. Monday (Sept. 19, 2011) at OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

His funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Minonk. The Rev. Richard Olson will officiate. Burial will follow at Minonk Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation.

Arthur was born May 28, 1930, at St. Charles, Mo., to Arthur Patrick and Vallie Loraine Simpson Howell. He married Sybil Gay on Sept. 4, 1948, at Wellsville, Mo. She preceded him in death on March 14, 2008.

Surviving are six sons, Gary Howell, Minonk; Allan Howell, Ellsworth; Richard Howell, Taylorville; David (Tina) Howell and Jeffery Howell, both of Minonk; and Kenny Howell, Washburn; and one daughter, Sandra (Terry) Hodgson, Clinton; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, James (Jo Ann) Howell, Jerseyville; and one sister, Patty Hammett, St. Charles, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, John Wayne Howell; two brothers and one sister.

Arthur was a member of the First Baptist Church, Minonk.  He had retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co. after 39 years. He had worked at the East Peoria plant.