Mr. Howard Austin Pearl, 89, of Jefferson, died on February 16 at Northampton Manor Nursing Home, Frederick. He was the husband of Ruth Bruchey Pearl. Born on June 11, 1924, he was the son of the late Francis Carlton Pearl and Mary Lillian Harris. Mr. Pearl was a dairy farmer in the Jefferson area for many years. He was a member of Valley Baptist Church and also belonged to the Petersville Ruritan Club for over 40 years. Howard was an avid duckpin bowler at one time and played tri-county baseball in his younger years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Donna Pearl Birmingham and husband Michael of Manassas, VA, six grandchildren, Melinda R. Hoy, Charles A. Crummitt, Madeline A. Birmingham, Olivia G. Birmingham, Caroline E. Birmingham and Eleanor M. Birmingham as well as four great-grandchildren, C.J. Crummitt, Cory Crummitt, Nathaniel Hoy and Kristen Hoy and two great-great grandchildren Caelynn Crummitt and Connor Crummitt. He is also survived by sister Betty L. Wells of Hagerstown. Mr. Pearl is preceded in death by a daughter, Diane E. Pearl Crummitt and three siblings, Lillie V. Hope, John F. Pearl and Glenn E. Pearl. The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at Northampton Manor for the wonderful care they gave to Howard over the past few years. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 21 from 3-8 PM at Keeney and Basford PA Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick. Friends will also be received from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 22, prior to funeral services, which will begin at 11:00 AM in the Etchison Memorial Chapel of the funeral home, Pastor Mike Knight officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Reformed Cemetery, Jefferson. Serving as pallbearers will be Chuck Crummitt, a grandson; C.J. Crummitt and Cory Crummitt, great-grandsons; Michael Birmingham, son-in-law and Madeline Birmingham and Olivia Birmingham, granddaughters. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to his church, Valley Baptist Church, P.O. Box 740, Middletown, Maryland 21769.
