Percy Howard (Shorty) Gilpin

Percy Howard (Shorty) Gilpin, 90 , was born Sept. 19, 1934, to Percy Clyde Gilpin and Jessie Jewell McCarthy Gilpin near Olympia in Cedar County, MO. He passed away in his home and met his Savior on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.

Young Howard noticed a cute young lady sitting by the window at a country school pie supper. He was outside but thought it was fun to tug at her hair to get her attention.  Obviously, it worked! Howard married Nina Mae Eckard on Nov. 20, 1953, and to this union two daughters, Janolyn Mae and Jacquelyn Kay, were born. Howard and Nina resided in or near El Dorado Springs their entire married life of nearly 67 years. Howard attended El Dorado schools and then worked for the REA, International Shoe Company, and retired after 30 years with the Missouri State Highway Department.

He and Nina retired at the same time and enjoyed traveling on bus tours, RV trips including Colorado many times, and Alaska twice. Some of his favorite camping trips were the family group camps three times a year at Pomme de Terre Lake. He also enjoyed attending Bluegrass Festivals, Southern Gospel concerts, spending time outdoors fishing, hunting and working on his hobby farm. Any time spent with family and friends made him happy.

His most favorite activities, however, were time spent with his two grandsons and great-grandsons. When the grandsons were younger, he and Nina attended most of their sports activities, school programs and concerts. They missed very few activities no matter the distance. Great-grandsons, Wyatt, 6, and Wesley, 3, brought him great joy. Into his late 80’s and at age 90, he was on the floor playing with them.

Howard and Nina were faithful members of the Church of God (Holiness). They were willing workers wherever needed. Howard served on the church Board for several years. He often worked quietly in the background while his and Nina’s health permitted. He loved the Lord and modeled godly character for his children and grandchildren. He was always willing to assist family and friends whenever help was needed. He was an especially amazing caregiver to his beloved, Nina, when she suffered from Alzheimer’s for the last seven years of her life.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife, Nina; siblings and spouses, Virginia and Raymond Beydler; Wesley (Jim) Gilpin; Marion (Buck) and Reta Gilpin; Alice and Art Nikodim; Anita and Mel Leverich; Marie and Lendon Cochran. He was also preceded in death by Nina’s parents, Ernest and Bertha Mae Eckard; siblings and spouses, Lucille and Wayne Harrison; Maxine and Harold Shull; Virgil and Violet Eckard; Welford and Dorothy Eckard.

He is survived by his daughters and their husbands: Janolyn and Gary McCandless, Jacquelyn and Curtis Dudley; two grandsons, Matthew (Cassie) McCandless and Nathan Dudley, and two great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Wesley McCandless. Other bonus family members include grandchildren Brian (Lea) McCandless, Ronnie (Mark) Owens; and several bonus great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Donna Leverich, and many nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.

Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Bland Hackleman Funeral home. Services will befin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Church of God (Holiness). Interment will follow in the Clintonville Cemetery under direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the El Dorado Christian School and left with the funeral home.