Malvina Haidusek Howard

Malvina (Haidusek) Howard, age 96, of West, passed away early Saturday morning, February 13, 2010 in Plano, TX. A rosary will be recited 6:30 p.m. Monday at Aderhold Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Anthony Odiong as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Malvina was born on March 17, 1913 in Bomarton, TX, the daughter of Louis R. and Mary (Cocek) Haidusek. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from West High School in 1930. She then attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Having to work her way through college proved advantageous for a number of reasons. She met and gained employment as a sort of "nanny" for Jo Betsy Allred whose husband, James V. Allred, was in politics. Malvina helped campaign for his successful bid for governor of Texas. She was then invited to move into the Texas State Governor's Mansion with the new first family to help with their three young children while still attending college. Later taking a job at the Texas State Capitol in the Department of Treasury didn't hurt her cause either. One dashing young man named Claude Taylor Howard worked two floors down in the Comptroller's office. Many, many lunch breaks later at the nearby drug store sealed their fate and the rest is history, except for mentioning she also worked briefly as the secretary to the Dean of the UT Law School. On June 29, 1941, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Claude Howard, in Austin. Six months later, Pearl Harbor was attacked leading to the entry of the United States into World War II. Claude Howard, a commissioned officer in the Navy, was stationed at the naval base in New York City. Initially, wives were not allowed to join their husbands, a decision that was later reversed. Claude's next assignment took them to the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba until 1946 when they returned to Texas to begin civilian life. During her married life, Malvina was secretary for the Superintendent of the White Oak ISD for over 20 years before retiring in 1978; prior to that she worked for the Longview ISD. She enjoyed traveling and playing dominoes, especially "42". She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption. She was also a member of KJZT Society #11, the Catholic Daughters of America, the Spring Hill PTA, and the University of Texas Glee Club. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband on January 20, 1988; her parents; a granddaughter, Christian Howard; a brother, Alois Haidusek; and three sisters, Irene Scott, Sister Mary Martin Haidusek, and Sister Irene Marie Haidusek. Survivors include two sons, Philip L. Howard and wife Jan of Dallas and Robert W. Howard and wife Alma of Rockwall; a daughter, Claudia A. Howard of Plano; a sister, Molly Jane Reed and husband Jack of El Paso; five grandchildren, Philip Owen Howard and wife Celeste, Taylor Howard, Stephen Howard and wife Elizabeth, Brian Williams, and Emilie Fennell and husband Jack; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Taylor Howard, Stephen Howard, Kenneth Haidusek, Edward Haidusek, Michael Haidusek, and Mark Crocker. Honorary pallbearers are Jackie Lynn Reed and Irene Reed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Senior Center.