Elva Sowards

Elva Pearl Sowards, 100, formerly of New Boston, died Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at The Anderson in Bethel. Born April 5, 1911, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Mary Sissel Briggs, was a fancy stitcher at the former Selby Shoe Company, and was a member of the Church of God. Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Morgan Sowards, sons Rick and Doug Sowards, brothers, Elmer, Gilbert and Raymond Briggs and sisters Edna Cooper and Tiny Bennett. Surviving are 2 sons, Paul (Loretta) Sowards of Mansfield and Morgan Sowards, Jr of Zephyrhills, Fla.; 2 daughters, Mary (Jim) Smith of Mansfield and Penny (Jerry) Arthur of Bethel; 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren. A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Brant Funeral Home in Sciotoville with Rev. Jack Howard officiating. Interment will be in McKendree Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Brant’s in Sciotoville 5-8 p.m. on Friday. Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Hospice, 4360 Glendale-Milford Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242.

---