Harold Dean Sowder

News Death Notice

SOWDER, Rev. Harold Dean age 76, of Dalton, GA. passed away Sunday, September 6, 2009 at his home. He was born January 28, 1933 in Hamilton, Ohio to the late Fay and Louise Ramsey Sowder. Brother Harold served as General Secretary of the Church of God of the Union Assembly for 31 years retiring in June of 2006. He was an ordained minister and served as pastor at numerous churches in Georgia and Tennessee. Brother Harold served in the U. S. Army from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gaynelle Gillespie Sowder; daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Rocky Harold Johnson of Luttrell, TN, Linda and Ricky Merritt of Luttrell, TN., Margarita and John Harmon of Newnan, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Herbie Caron and Michelle Sowder of Cleveland, TN; grandchildren, Beth and Dakota Collins, Rondo Dean Johnson, Jeremy and Alison Merritt of Luttrell, TN. Corey and Amber Smith, Amanda, McKinley, Zachary and Payton Sowder of Cleveland, TN, Mason, Benjamin and Katie Beth Harmon of Newnan, Ga; one great-grandchild, Aidan Smith of Cleveland, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Hilda and Jerry Parks of Hamilton, OH; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronnie and Betty Sowder of Hamilton, OH, Marvin Sowder of Dalton and Brent and Anita Sowder of Hamilton, OH; nieces and nephews. Services to celebrate Brother Harold's life are Wednesday at 2 P.M. from the Church of God of the Union Assembly with the Rev. Charlie Pratt, the Rev. Paul Thomas Hughes and Herman Epperson officiating. Burial will follow in West Hill Cemetery with American Legion Post #112 in charge of graveside rites. Pallbearers will be Corey Smith, Rondo Johnson, Jeremy Merritt, Dakota Collins, Shane Sowder and Bradley Sowder. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Wilson, Jackie Cole, Billy Howard, Richard Jackson, Doffise Williams, Raymond Hutson, Alvin Merritt, Johnny Merritt, Paul Merritt, Randy Merritt, Eddie Teems, Ken Thomason, Rodney Kennedy and Carroll Leath. The family will receive friends at the Church of God of the Union Assembly on Tuesday from 4 til 9 P.M. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com. Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.