Mr. Howard Neel "Bud" Covington

MEBANE - Mr. Howard Neel "Bud" Covington, 83, of Mebane, died at his residence on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 at 7:20 p.m.
Neel was born in Alamance County on Oct. 20, 1928 to Marian Fenton Covington and Charles Dewey Covington, Sr. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army serving in Korea in the 51st Signal Battalion Corp. He attended N. C. State University and worked for a number of years at Melville Dairy in Burlington. Neel was a co-owner and operator of Covington Dairy Farm of Mebane for 55 years. He served for a number of years as Treasurer of Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
Mr. Covington was a lifelong member of Hawfields Presbyterian Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, youth advisor, Board of Deacons, Property chairman, organist and choir director for 17 ½ years. He was a member of the Bingham Masonic Lodge #272 in Mebane, the Burlington Shrine Club, the Amran Temple Shriners and a Scottish Rite Mason. Bud was a member of Hawfields Civitan and Civitan International for 32 years where he served a number of offices and committees in the local club, served as President several times, and had perfect attendance for 31 years. He served as Park Committee Chair for Hawfields Civitan for 30 years having helped build the ball field at the Hawfields Community Park which was recently renamed the H. Neel Covington ball field.
Numerous awards and accomplishments include Civitan of the Year for Hawfields Civitan for two years; Honor Key in Club and N. C. District East; two terms as Lt. Governor of Area 3 Civitan; Civitan International Research Fellow; Junior Civitan Fellow, N. C. District East Scholarship Fellow, and Humanitarian Award, Boys and Girls Home Endowment. He served as First Gentlemen of the District in 2001-02 when Harriett was Governor of the District and served as Hospitality Chair for the 2005 Civitan International Convention.
His great interests were volunteering and working around the Hawfields ball field, working the concession stand, working with the ball teams, and helping the children who live at Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Harriett Thomas Covington of the home; two sons, Timothy "Tim" Neel Covington and wife Mitzi of Mebane and Thomas "Lee" Covington and wife Carol of Clemmons, N.C.; grandchildren, Travis, Christian, Kelley, Zachary, Cole, Sawyer and Mason Covington; and Ashley Howerton and husband Jonathan; sisters, Martha Lee Covington of Mebane and Alma C. Mayberry and husband Jones of Cary; brothers, William F. "Bill" Covington and wife Nancy and Bennie M. Covington and wife Patsy, all of Mebane and Jim Covington of Haw River; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Dewey Covington, Jr. (killed in World War II), a sister-in-law, Barbara Covington of Haw River, and his parents.
Honorary pallbearers are members of the Hawfields Civitan Club, Chris Faucette and Jerry Smith. Special seating will be reserved for all Civitans of N. C. District East Civitan and for all coaches and athletes from any year in Hawfields Civitan Sports.
The funeral service will be conducted at Hawfields Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at 2 p.m. by the Rev. J. David Ealy. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Masonic graveside rites.
The family will receive friends at the Rich & Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory in Graham on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Other times they will be at the residence.
The family has requested that memorials in Neel's honor go to the Hawfields Civitan Club Ball Field Expansion Project in care of Beverly Wynn, Treasurer, 7340 Old Country Lane, Mebane, NC 27302.
The family would like to express sincere thanks to Dr. Gregory Schnier, Alamance Vein and Vascular and his staff for their care for Neel over the past seven months; to Presbyterian Home of Hawfields; to the caregivers at Alamance Regional Medical Center and Cancer Center at ARMC; to home caregivers from Home Care Providers and Sarah Strayhorn, caregiver; and Hospice of Alamance/Caswell.
Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Graham is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.