Howell enjoys talking about memories from younger years

By Sheila Harris [email protected]

Hilda Howell — who lives in the historic Corsicana community west of Purdy with her daughter and son-in-law, Gwen and Dennis Kelly — turned 100 on Saturday. 

The Kellys and Howell’s granddaughter, Leilani Kelly, celebrated Howell’s memorable milestone by hosting a surprise birthday party in her honor at the Monett Historical Museum’s event center.

In April 2024, Howell traveled to Washington D.C., where she was one of a delegation of women of her generation who accepted the Congressional Gold Medal, on behalf of the group known collectively as “Rosie the Riveter.” The Rosies, as they are called, stepped forward during WWII to do the necessary jobs traditionally performed by men, including aircraft manufacturing, ship-building and munitions production.

In addition to the collective medal, the 27 members of the American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) who were able to make the trip to D.C. were presented with individual, newly minted Rosie the Riveter commemorative coins.

Howell was the only Rosie from Missouri in attendance for the special presentation ceremony in Washington D.C. in 2024.

Hilda Campbell, as she was known as a teenager during WWII, lived in rural area south of Los Angeles, California, when the United States entered World War II. Every day, after school, Campbell worked in a makeshift Firestone facility established at local junior college, where she sealed the rubber on the inside of aircraft fuel tanks.

After the war ended, Campbell married returning serviceman, Harreld Howell. The couple made their home in Oklahoma City, until Harreld’s passing in 2012, after which she moved to Barry County to live with her daughter, Gwen Kelly.

Aside from using her two large walking sticks, purchased 20 years ago at a Love’s truck stop, Hilda Howell gets around without assistance and loves talking about her memories from her younger years.

Her granddaughter, Leilani Kelly, is taking notes.

“I take Grandma out for coffee or ice cream, and I record 30-minute question-and-answer sessions with her for podcasting,” Kelly said.

Although Hilda Howell says she wasn’t altogether surprised by her birthday party, she was pleased by the opportunity to visit with friends and family for her special occasion.