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Howe- Funeral services for Billy Hugh “Bill” Roby will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, February 27 at Waldo Funeral Home. Rev. Roy Layman will officiate. Burial will follow at Hall Cemetery with Kenneth Holman, Robert Holman, Mike Call, Larry Roby, Danny Roby, and Gary Obrien serving as pallbearers. Mr. Roby, 84, passed away Thursday, February 23 at Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center.

Bill was born March 12, 1932 in Athens, Texas to the late Frank and Nina D (Hood) Roby. He served two years in the US Army. On July 18, 1964, Bill and Ruby were married in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Roby worked for Texas Instruments for 34 years, retiring in 1993. He had a knack for being able to fix or repair anything and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, hunting, gardening, and listening to classic country music. Bill was a true fan of the Dallas Cowboys and will be remembered for his great stories.

Mr. Roby is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ruby of Howe; four children, Stephen Roby and wife Terri of Pottsboro, Tim Roby of Howe, Kristi Cooke and husband Quay of Melissa, and Kyle Roby of Princeton; six grandchildren, Jared Roby, Jordan Roby, Jacob Roby, Mason Cooke, Cayden Cooke, and Norah Cooke; two sisters, Margie Trammell of Tyler and Joan Bedsole of Athens; brother, Jim Roby and wife Fay of Edom; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Irene Munster and Mildred Socia; and two brothers, Albert Howard Roby and Bennie Jack Roby.

Howe Police Sergeant Michael Hill has released the following statement regarding the death of local Howe businessman Kevin Frantz.

“We are investing the death of a 53-year-old Howe business owner.  The police were called after a family member couldn’t reach him.  The police forced entry into the business where they found the man.  Paramedics responded and found no signs compatible of life.  The Justice of the Peace was called and pronounced the man deceased.  Circumstances surrounding the man’s death are under investigation and awaiting an autopsy.”

Frantz was the owner of Frantz Repair Service at 120 N. Collins Freeway in Howe and once served as assistant fire chief for the Howe Volunteer Fire Department.  The Frantz family have been longtime business owners and supporters of Howe.

 

 

Longtime Howe civic leader, Linda Wall, recently discovered a map of the old Farmington community of the early 1900s.  The drawings show to be made by Harold Waller in 1983 along with many friends.  It was scanned by the Howe Enterprise thanks to TLD Design Consulting.

About 100 years later, the roads are in the same locations.  The very bottom line of the map is the current location of US Highway 75.  Just above that is Bost Rd.  Hall Cemetery Road is seen on the right side of the map with Hall Cemetery marked.

One interesting note on the map is the following description, “Helzie Douglas was shot by Hoot Adkins at Farmington Baptist Church and died a week later, Feb 25, 1925.”