Howard Justiss

JUSTISS, Howard Hart – November 23, 2011. Howard Justiss was born into a farming family in northeast Texas in 1911. After graduating from Abilene Christian College, he became a teacher, then principal at Daingerfield Texas High School. Attending summer graduate studies at the University of Colorado, he met Zona Schwandt, a student from Wisconsin. They were married in 1942, while Howard was serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II.After the war, Howard's lifelong passion for child welfare began to develop while he and Zona served as houseparents in a children's home in Florida. He received his Masters degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin and pursued a career in child welfare, first in Edinburg, Texas, and then in Nashville. After several years as Supervisor of Protective Services for the state of Tennesee, he fulfilled his dream of providing professional services in a church-related context by serving as the first Director of AGAPE Nashville, a social services agency supported by members and congregations of the Church of Christ. In August, Howard had celebrated his 100th birthday with many of his family, long-time friends, and fellow residents and staff of Lakeshore Estates - the Meadows in Nashville.Howard is survived by his six children and 13 grandchildren: Joel Jeanne Justiss grandchildren Benjamin, David, Stephen, James Yooko Justiss, Alan Alice Justiss grandchildren Scott, Paul, Katy, Keith Justiss, Leeta Peter von Buelow grandchildren Carl, Jaspar, Sgt. Roland USMC, Josef, Stefan, Johannes, Francesco, and Kevin Justiss. He is also survived by a sister, Bessie Cason of Atlanta, Texas, and a brother, C.Y. Justiss of Daingerfield, Texas.Visitation will be from 4 – 8 pm Tuesday evening and 10 – 10:45 am Wednesday morning at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Highway 100. Funeral services will be at 11 am Wednesday morning November 30, in the chapel at the same location, with interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Zona and Howard Justiss Fund at AGAPE Nashville, 4555 Trousdale Drive, Nashville, TN 37204, to assist children with special needs. HARPETH HILLS FUNERAL HOME 9090 Hwy 100 Nashville, 615 646-9292