Howard William Hull, Sr.

In the early morning hours of November 17, 2025, Mr. Howard William Hull, Sr. age 98, of Mount Airy, met his Savior Jesus Christ and joined his many loved ones who had gone on before. Mr. Hull was born on December 26, 1926, in Surry County to the late John Hillary and Emma Davis Hull. He was raised in a sharecropper family during the Great Depression, never forgetting the trials and struggles which formed the man that he became. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. Upon his return home from the Army, he and his brother Charlie began a business partnership that lasted many years. Together they formed Mt. Airy Tractor Co. and Hull Brothers Lumber Co. Both became respected family operated businesses. In 1949, he married Betty Jean Nowlin and they enjoyed a life together that lasted until her passing in 2007. In their early years of marriage, he made a profession of faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This began his many years as a faithful member and deacon of Calvary Baptist Church. Together they built a Christian home and a legacy of faith. Along with being a successful businessman, he was a man who modeled hard work and being an avid collector was his only hobby. He was a 60-year member of Round Peak Masonic Lodge # 616 AF & AM. Surviving are his sons and daughters-in-law, Howard William “Bill” Hull, Jr. and Cathy; Chad Hull and Janet; daughter and son-in-law, LaDonna Hull Sheaffer and Danny and daughter-in-law, Anita Lawrence Hull, eleven grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; a special family member, LuAnn Boyer; along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hull was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Nowlin Hull; son, Brent Shelton Hull; infant sister, Fannie Hull; three sisters, Evelyn Hull Jones, Etta Hull Hawks, Viola Hull Thore; and five brothers, Charlie Woltz Hull, John Howard Hull, R.J. “Willie” Hull, Wade Hull, Edward Harvey “Ed” Hull. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Airy with Reverend Alex Martin, Reverend Trent Lyons and Reverend Daniel Sheaffer officiating. Interment will follow in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery. Full military rites will be conducted by the VFW Honor Guard, Post 2019 Mount Airy and Post 9436 Pilot Mountain. Full masonic rites will be conducted by Round Peak Masonic Lodge # 616 A.F. & AM. The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church from 12:00 PM until 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 137 Antioch Avenue, Mt Airy, NC 27030. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy has been entrusted with the arrangements.