Kenneth Earl Howard, age 73, of Copperhill, TN passed away Tuesday, October 16, 2012. Mr. Howard was retired from Aftec Construction where he had worked as a welder. He was a member of the Old Ocoee Baptist Church and was preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Lois Allen Howard.He is survived by wife Jo Ethel Howard of the home; children, Rick (Nola) Howard of McCaysville, GA, Annette (Mike) Weaver of Murphy, NC; brother, Newell Cummings of Benton, TN; sisters, Thelma Kolar of Lockport, IL, Linda Lynch and Judy Wilson, both of Benton, TN; six grandchildren, Phillip Richie Howard, Jennifer Baliles, Amos Weaver, Miranda Standridge, Megan Collins and Mindy Weaver; eight great grandchildren.Funeral services will be conducted Friday, October 19th at 2:00 p.m. from the Mt. Zion (Tumbling Creek) Baptist Church with Rev. Lloyd Deal, Rev. Gerald Payne and Rev. Melvin O'Neal officiating. Music will be by the Kenny O'Neal Family and the Deal Family. Pallbearers include, Mike Weaver, Rick Howard, Amos Weaver, Phillip Howard, Jimmy Payne, Randy Deal, Frankie Barker, Josh Waters, Johnny Wilson and Robert Hyde. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill in charge of the arrangements. .