David Thomas Howeth

Rev. Dr. David Thomas Howeth died in his home in Wylie, TX, on December 24, 2018.  David was born on November 12, 1950, in Gainesville, TX, to Donald Marshall Howeth and Bennie Jo (Turner) Howeth.  He was raised in Gainesville and Orange County, CA, graduating from Gainesville High School in 1968.  After high school, David attend Baylor University in Waco, TX, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Arts degree in Biology.  After graduation he worked for Upjohn Company as a pharmaceutical representative in Austin, TX, before returning to Gainesville to join his father in the family business, Howeth Title and Abstract Company.  During his time in Gainesville, David was active in the Rotary Club, serving as President, served on the Cooke County College (now North Central Texas College) Board of Trustees and worked with the music and youth ministries at Whaley United Methodist Church.

After several years of working at Howeth Title and Abstract, David received a call to the ministry.  He was ordained by the United Methodist Church as a Deacon in 1989 and as an Elder in 1992.  He dedicated the remainder of his life to serving several churches and communities in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.  He first served as an Associate Pastor and Youth Minister at Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX, and subsequently served as Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Sachse, TX; First United Methodist Church, The Colony, TX; First United Methodist Church, Nocona, TX; Greenland Hills United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX; Buckingham United Methodist Church, Garland, TX; Schreiber Memorial United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX; and First United Methodist Church, Howe, TX.  David retired in 2015.  During his many years of service to the United Methodist Church, David performed countless weddings, baptisms, and funerals for the families in his congregations, and felt honored to be included in these special moments.  He also loved working with the North Texas Conference’s youth camps at Bridgeport, TX, and served as a leader for numerous Walks to Emmaus and Chrysalis Flights.

David was a talented musician and thespian, performing in productions at Gainesville High School, Cooke County College, and with the Butterfield Stage Players, where he was involved in the early development of Gainesville’s community theater, as well as numerous productions at the churches he served.  David was a popular performer at civic and church events as both a vocalist and instrumentalist.  His tenor voice and talent for the drums were well known and appreciated throughout the North Texas area.

David valued education, and was proud of the degrees he had completed and the schools he attended.  In addition to his degrees from Baylor University, David had a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University.

David is survived by his children Stephanie Howeth Moore and husband Michael of Trophy Club, TX, and Matthew Howeth and wife Monica of Austin, TX; grandchildren Henry and Clara Moore and Harrison and Carolina Howeth; father Don Howeth of Lake Kiowa, TX; sister Donna Howeth Foster and husband Donnie of Pilot Point, TX;  nephews and nieces Jeff Briggs and wife LeAnn of Ardmore, OK, Brent Briggs and wife Chelsea of Pasadena, CA, Stacie Foster David and husband, Jeremy of Mountain Springs, TX, Zachary Foster of Pilot Point, TX, and Jordan Foster and wife Bethany of Pilot Point, TX; as well as numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, and countless friends and congregants that he loved like family.

David was preceded in death by his mother, Bennie Howeth, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Moore.

A memorial service will be held in David’s honor at First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, TX, on January 3, 2019 at 1:00pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David’s honor to the Pastoral Counseling Center of Dallas at 4525 Lemmon Avenue #200, Dallas, TX, 75219.  Please send in attention to COO Amy Powers, with a note of the gift being in honor of Rev. Dr. David Howeth.