MARLEN EUGENE HOWARD, age 70, of Mt. Sterling, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Mount Carmel Grove City.

He was born on July 31, 1951 in Franklin County to the late Paul and Audrey (Self) Howard. He was a graduate of Westfall High School. Marlen had been employed at Cortec in Washington CH for several years and later retired from Madison Correctional Institution in London, Ohio.

In addition to his parents, Marlen was preceded in death by his brothers, Paul Howard, Jr. and Glenn Howard.

Survivors include his ex-wife, Kimberly Howard; his children, Brandon (Lewis) Groswold, Daniel (Charity) Howard, and Mikaela (Aaron) Depugh; step-son, Kurtis (Brittany) Rogers; grandchildren, Austin, Gavin, Ava, and Easton Rogers, and Parker and Harrison Depugh; great-grandchildren, Preston, Mason, and Emmery Rogers; sister, Fonda (Rick) Rouse; nieces, Lora (Kevin) Curtis, Brittany (Grant) Zerkle, and Ashley (A.J.) Woods; and great-nieces and nephews, Emmett, Sutton, Shepard, and Baby Curtis, Gavin, Ethan, and Izzy Zerkle, and Audrey and Abigail Woods.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Summers Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Harlan officiating with burial to follow at the New Holland Cemetery. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home on Thursday morning from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Online condolences may be sent to www.summersfuneralhome.com