Nolan Patrick Howington Sr.

He was born Sept. 2, 1917, in Winder, Georgia, the son of Zed Wilson Howington, a tenant farmer, and Jessie Patrick Howington, and grew up in North Carolina as one of thirteen children. He graduated in 1939 with high honors from Wake Forest College (now University), where he then earned a master's degree in religion. He went on to earn a doctoral degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1948.

In 1942 he married Marietta Price, several years after commencing courtship when both were in their teens. Nolan and Marietta enjoyed an unusually devoted marriage for 70 years until her death last May.

He served in the Army as a chaplain during World War II, crossing Germany from west to east with the Fighting 69th Infantry Division.

Upon his military discharge, Nolan began a long career in the ministry. Bringing to the pulpit a spirited and dramatic delivery, he served as pastor of churches in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas before joining the faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as a professor of Christian ethics and preaching.

In 1961, he and other faculty members were instrumental in bringing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to visit and lecture at the seminary. Nolan later marched with Dr. King in Frankfort.

After leaving the seminary, he served as an editor with the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, where he and Marietta lived for nearly 40 years. His Christian ministry continued after retirement as he taught Sunday school for years and engaged in other church activities.

To friends and family alike, Nolan was known for his booming voice, his strong handshake, his ready humor, his generosity, his love for friends and family, and his remarkable devotion to his wife Marietta, with whom he shared gardening chores and extensive international travel.

He was a loving father and an affectionate grandfather and a loyal longtime friend to many, to whom he delighted in writing letters.

Nolan is survived by his three sons, Richard (Jean) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Pat (Sue), of Louisville, Ky., and John (Jane) of Newport, R.I.; grandchildren Jeff, Jessica, and Joshua; and brothers Hoyt Howington (Alina) of Tega Cay, S.C. , Dwight Howington (Kate) of Gastonia, N.C., Robert Howington of Shelby, N.C., and Horace Howington (Julia) of Plymouth, N.C.

In addition to his wife and parents, Nolan was preceded in death by two sisters, Erie Dell Worthy and Una Morgan; and six brothers, Herman Howington, Zed Howington Jr., William Howington, Hugh Howington, Hal Howington, and Grady Howington.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road in Louisville, with visitation Sunday from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Interment will be Monday at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Nolan and Marietta Scholarship Fund at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (Va.); Hosparus; or Hickory Hollow Baptist Church in Antioch, Tennessee.