Richmond - Pearl M. Howard, 89, of Richmond passed away Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Residence at Gray Birch in Augusta.

The only daughter of Anna (Fugman) and Charles Soder, Pearl was born in North Haledon, N.J. in 1921 where she attended the Memorial School and graduated from Hawthorne High School and secretarial college. After marrying her childhood sweetheart Roy in 1942 she worked during World War II at Wright Paterson Aeronautics and later at the New Jersey Bank in Paterson, N.J., taught Sunday School and was a Cub Scout Den Mother.

In 1972 Pearl and Roy moved to Sangerville, Maine. There she and Roy operated an 85 acre farm where she enjoyed tending a large garden, canning fruits and vegetables, and was an accomplished seamstress and needle worker.

Pearl’s parents and Roy, her beloved husband of 61 years, predeceased her. She is survived by her devoted son James and his wife Denise of Concord, NH; loving daughter Janis and husband Wesley Wharff of Richmond; five grandchildren, Heidi and husband Ron Small of Richmond, Hillary and husband Ben Goodall of Litchfield, James Howard Jr and wife Annie of Philadelphia, Pa, Bonnie Howard of Nashua, N.H. and Alfred Howard of Boston, Ma.; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of her life and memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 23rd at 1pm at Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St, Richmond. Kincer is also in charge of Funeral arrangements. A committal to Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa, N.J. is planned for later in 2010.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Pearl’s memory to: The Good Sheppard Food Bank PO Box 1807 Auburn, Me. 04211-1807

For those unable to attend the memorial, condolences may be expressed through, or further information is available at: www.kincerfuneralhome.com