Thomas Howell, of Rugby, TN

Thomas S. Howell (Tom)

Tom was born April 4, 1941, in Asheville, North Carolina, where he graduated from high school.  He attended Duke University, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned masters and doctor of performing arts degrees in music from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  Although he studied piano and organ, his primary instrument was flute.  He taught at the University of Kentucky and was principal flutist in the Lexington Symphony Orchestra for a number of years.  After moving to Knoxville, he became a piano tuner and was a regular instrumentalist and choir member at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral.

Tom and his wife Benita joined the Rugby, Tennessee, community in 1998, where Tom volunteered for Historic Rugby events, served in the Clear Fork Area Volunteer Fire Department, helped develop and maintain hiking trails for Friends of Rugby State Natural Area, and served as organist for Christ Church Episcopal.

In addition to Benita, his wife of 55 years, Tom is survived by brother-in-law Jim Taylor, nephew Luke Taylor, and a host of “chosen family” friends and neighbors in and around Rugby.  Special thanks to the staff from Quality Hospice and to Dottie Hutcherson who cared for Tom so lovingly in his last days.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to Historic Rugby, Inc., PO Box 8, Rugby, TN  37733; to the Morgan-Scott Project, PO Box 8, Deer Lodge, TN  37726; or to the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.  A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at Christ Church Rugby at a later date.

Schubert Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Thomas S. Howell.