Funeral service for Howard Davis Mayberry was 1 p.m., April 21, 2023, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home, in Cookeville. Bro. Mike Adams officiated. Full military honors were conducted by the Overton County Coalition Veterans Guard. Interment followed in the Smith Chapel Cemetery.
Howard, better known as “Pa” to his loving family, peacefully passed from this life, on April 18, 2023, at his beloved Whitehall Farms residence, surrounded by his family, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. He was just six days shy of his 85th birthday.
In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Vivian Ester Rash Mayberry, and his second wife, Faye Loftis Mayberry. Howard was also preceded in death by his brothers, James Lee, Aubrey, and Herman Mayberry (wife Sue).
Surviving family members include his daughter, Vickie Wilson (Jeff); son, Barney Griner (Janette); grandchildren, Heather Smith (Parker), Scott Griner, Joshua Pinkley, Jordan Wilson (Lea), Jessica Willhite (William); great-grandchildren, Jackson Emberton, Gracie Kirby, Jasper Wilson, William Howard "Liam" Willhite, Luke Jeffery Willhite; sister-in-law, sister-in-law Regina Mayberry; several nieces and nephews; and Pa's very special friend, Doris Robbins.
He was born on April 23, 1938, on the family farm, in Putnam County, Tennessee, to Jim and Beulah (Adcock) Mayberry. He was a proud fourth generation farmer of a seven-generation family farm. He was also a successful business owner at Cookeville Radiator Shop for the last 55 years. He was loved and cherished by all who knew him. He prided himself on being a simple man and a great friend; he was always there to help others, day or night, whenever he was needed.
Howard deeply loved the farm and his family, but he left home in December 1956 to follow in his brother James’s footsteps and joined the United States Navy. As Howard put it, “There were a lot of sites in this big ole world, and I wanted to see as many as I could.” He served on the USS Princeton and USS Shangri La as part of the ordnance crew. While enlisted, he also completed a year of special training as part of the Naval Helicopter Water Rescue team. He also had the unique opportunity to cross the equator twice while serving on naval aircraft carriers. He was a longtime member of the Tailhook Society. He loved to share his Navy stories with anyone who had a minute to listen.
After discharge from the Navy, he lived a short time in Winter Haven, Florida, where he got his start in the radiator business. During that time, he also met and married Vivian E. Mayberry, and started his family. He soon brought his family back home to the farm, in 1965, where he joined his brother, Aubrey, in growing a small cattle and feeder pig operation. He began working for the McCulley family, who were the current owners of Cookeville Radiator Shop, which was originally established in 1935. In 1969, he purchased the business, and it has been family owned and operated since that time. Howard remained at the helm until just a few short months ago when his illness forced him to step away.
He was a strong family man who took charge in looking after everyone he loved. He deeply cherished his grand and great-grandchildren. He was always there for birthdays, graduations, ballgames, and holiday gatherings. He loved God and his country. He was a friend to everyone and a stranger to no one. If you ever stopped by the Radiator Shop, you left knowing you had a friend for life.
He was deeply loved and adored by many, and he will be forever missed by his family, which is so blessed by the legacy he left behind.
Crest Lawn Funeral Home, in Cookeville, was in charge of arrangements.
