Obituary of Howard M. Yonce

Howard M. Yonce, age 83, longtime resident of Ovid, died at the Laurel House Comfort Care Home in Newark, NY on Saturday, May 4th following a period of deteriorating health. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm (Noon) to 2:00pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Covert Funeral Home in Ovid. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Ovid Union Cemetery. Howard was born on May 24, 1940, in Wytheville, Virginia as the 2nd oldest of 12. He was the son of the late Davis Grayson and Sarah Rich Yonce. Howard retired in 1995 from the Willard Psychiatric Center as a carpenter, served over 50 years as volunteer firefighter and fire police and was an active member of the Ovid-Willard Lions Club. He was an avid Lions Club Pin Collector, one of many hobbies over the years. Howard is survived by his children Michael (Jen) Yonce of Reno, Nevada; Kathi (David Pitoni) Pedeville, of Churchville, NY; his grandsons, Justin (Kelly) Yonce, Eric (Francesca) King, Josh and Zach Pedeville; his great grand-children, Samara, Lilly, Audrey, and Noah Yonce, and Cameron Joseph King, brothers Eddie, Rufus (Celerina) Yonce, Carl (Doris) Yonce, Jerry (Judy) Yonce, and Sisters, Mabel Cline, Aileen (Ted) Brown, Darlene Garland and Frances Smelser; sisters in law, Doris (Clyde) Daugherty and Janet Gunn. In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Patsye, his brothers, Emmett, Stuart, and Virgil, son-in-law, Scott Pedeville, and mother and father-in-Law, Fred and Pauline Williams. The family would like to say a special thanks to the caregivers of the Laurel House in Newark, NY for such wonderful end of life care in Howard’s final Days. In addition, the wonderful care over the past couple of years from his caregivers Erica Rodman and Marlene Hamilton whose care allowed him to stay in his home as long as he did. A big thank you to Lenny Reynolds for all the check-ins, lawn care, and just being a good friend to all of us over the past few years. In Lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Howard’s memory to: The Laurel House, 224 Fair St., Newark, NY 14513. For additional information, please visit www.covertfuneralhome.com or call 607-869-3411. Obituary is a courtesy of Grubb Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com