Mr. Howlett Cooley Irvin

June 30, 1926 - February 23, 2020

Howlett (Hal) Irvin born in Elberton, Georgia on June 30, 1926 - February 23, 2020. Hal was the finest and most moral, ethical person I have ever known. From childhood Hal took care of his mother father and many other relatives. At age 12, Hal started working in the local Elberton, Georgia theatre. By age 15 Hal was managing the theatre and running the projector for all movies. At age 17, Hal enlisted in the Navy and spent the next 2.5 years on USS Bull 652, sub chaser in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged from the Navy, 6 months after World War II ended. Immediately after WWII, Hal went to the University of Georgia where he got a business degree. Immediately after graduating from UGA, Hal went to work for CIT financial and 42 years later he retired as Sr. Vice President. Two days before graduating from UGA, Hal married his childhood sweetheart, Norma Bell. They had a fairy tale life and love that is only seen in movies. His wife Norma, was a third grade teacher until she passed from cancer in 1993. Hal and Norma had two boys, Joseph Howlett Irvin, age 63 and Richard Wilton Irvin, age 60. They had two grandchildren, Lindsey Michelle Irvin of Atlanta and Richard Grant Irvin of Cummings, Ga. A few years after Norma passed, Hal met the second love of his life, Beverly Gascoigne. Beverly was a brilliant high school Spanish teacher who was fluent in several languages. When Hal and Beverly met, she was in remission from cancer. Two months after marriage Beverly’s cancer came back and Hal took care of her as if she was his child. Their love for each other was indescribable. Hal loved Beverly and her family. He never left her side. She passed at their home in Alpharetta, Ga. Hal continued his life in Alpharetta, Ga. As the following years progressed, Hal slowly declined with age. Hal moved to Summers Landing Assisted Living in Dunwoody. He touched many lives at Summers Landing. They loved Hal and took special care of him until he passed. They called him Papa, because he was full of Godly wisdom that he shared. As his son, I remember that every evening of his life, my father read his bible and prayed out loud to his Lord and Savior, Jesus. He had done this since he was a child and it never stopped until he slipped away. I’m confident that he is with his savior and was welcomed into the kingdom of heaven with the following: Well done my good and faithful servant. Thank you, Dad. It was an honor taking care of you during your last years. You left us a legacy that I will try to carry on and conduct in the same manner you lived your life. Thank you for your love, wisdom and friendship