Dr. Ralph Edward Howell

Dr. Ralph Edward Howell age 57, died suddenly Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Chapel with Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews and Rev. Sam Storey, Sr. officiating. Internment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Marietta. Dr. Howell was a native of Marietta and a 1970 graduate of Marietta High School. He graduated from Oxford College of Emory University and in 1975 from Emory University. Ralph earned his PhD in Pharmacology from the Medical College of Georgia in 1980 and received many awards and scholarships. Following the completion of his postdoctoral training at Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania, he embarked on a productive research career in the pharmaceutical industry. He served as Team Leader in the Pharmacology Division at Nova Pharmaceutical Corporation and Principal Scientist in the Inflammatory Disease Division at Wyeth-Ayerst Research. He later became a private consultant and medical writer, preparing clinical study reports on the efficacy and safety of drugs in Phase I-III development. He served as Senior Manager for Medical writing and Clinical Research at GE Healthcare, Director of Medical Writing and Clinical Development at DOV Pharmaceutical, and Principal Medical Writer at UCB Pharmaceuticals. He was well recognized for his expertise in the European markets and frequently traveled abroad as part of his profession. He was a member of numerous scientific organizations and published over 60 scientific reports during his career. Ralph enjoyed coaching soccer and was an avid fan of the University of Georgia football. He was a worldwide traveler and seldom missed a museum or historic site. Ralph was a student of all history especially Civil War history and was a collector of Civil War relics. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marietta and was a community volunteer. Ralph was devoted to his family and was always known for being a genuine Southern gentleman. Survivors include his daughter, Emily Victoria Howell of Princeton Junction, NJ; mother, Dr. Clara Welch Howell of Marietta; brother & sister-in-law, Dr. Leonard Lee & Madeline Howell and one niece, Elizabeth Lee Howell of Atlanta. His maternal grandparents were Dr. Leonard Lee Welch and Mary Emma Nolan Welch of Marietta. His paternal grandparents were Ralph Eldridge Howell and Mary Barnes Howell of Charlotte, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Marietta or to the Marietta Museum of History. Family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory in Marietta. www.mayeswarddobbins.com