Anola Loree (Howard) Archibald, 30 May 1931- 27 April 2024

Anola Loree Archibald was a loving wife and steady life grounding partner to her husband for 69 years.  She was born on May 30, 1931, in Toronto Ohio, the eighth of seventeen children born to Harry Lorenzo Howard Sr. and Iva May (Anderson) Howard.

As with most families that are Americans through their forefathers (and mothers) being brought to this county through the slave trade it is oral history that keeps the family's record.  The Howard family has roots that date back to slavery with her great-grandfather who used the underground railroad making his way to freedom settling in West Verginia.  He and his twin brother fought in the civil war and were part of Shermon's March to the sea.

Anola grew up in Toronto Ohio and graduated from Toronto high school.  Anola's parents instilled the importance of doing your best at all that you do.  At home, Anola shared that her mother was teaching how to crochet.  When she had made a long chain, her mother would inspect her work.  She recalled her mother pulling out her chain saying, "I'm sorry but the stitches must be even".  Anola was accomplished with crocheting and knitting, from fine work using thread, wedding gowns and baptismal gowns, to afghans and throws using yarn.  At school, she shared that when report cards came out first quarter her father let them know he would not accept a lower grade in that class for the rest of that year.  Striving for their personal excellence was a must in the Howard home.  Anola was a member of the National Honor Society.  She excelled in Latin and during her senior year stood in for one of the teachers and taught the first level classes. Upon graduation Anola wanted to be a nurse, but the local hospital wouldn't allow blacks in their nursing program. She worked in the kitchen until she moved to Dayton Ohio and using skills learned in high school became a clerk/typist as a civilian employee at Wright-Paterson Airbase.  Anola recalls when the gyroscope was considered top secret and was housed in the safe in her office.  When they were released as a toy she was taken aback.   Anola had top secret clearance and was responsible for typing the reports on airplane crashes and what caused them.  (Anola would not permit Julius to fly for many years.)  Anola took pride in her work and made sure if it came from her desk it was correct and grammatically sound.  She had great delight in sharing that a southern officer that was not too fond of persons of color was not happy when she corrected a report he had written and instructed her to, "Type it the way I wrote it". She complied but refused to place her initials at the bottom stating that she was not going to put her name on something that was not correct.  The report was handed to his superiors and returned to him for corrections.  The officer came back to Anola and asked her to retype it making the needed corrections.  It was during her time in Dayton that her then boyfriend introduced her to Julius A. Archibald Jr. a lieutenant in the air force.

After a short courtship, Julius and Anola were married on March 27, 1954.  Upon her husband's separation from the military, they settled in Schenectady, New York.  Anola and Julius had 5 children, the first two passing away shortly after birth, before they were named.  With the arrival of Julius A. III, it was decided that Anola would be the stay-at-home parent for their children.  Phyllis Valerie (Mitchell), and Edrie Gladys would arrive in due time.  Anola had a keen understanding of not just the physical development of children, but also their emotional.  Anola never said, "Wait till your father gets home!".  They never used their children's middle name when correcting bad behavior.  She would end their afternoon with them sitting on the porch waiting for daddy to come home.  Evening would find the four, father and three children playing a game or reading together to support the father child relationship, as she prepared their meals and cleaned up.  While home with their children Anola was the Den Mother to their son's boy scout troop and as time went on was leader to their daughter's girl scout troops.  Anola was cookie chair serval time during the girls' scout years with stacks and stacks of cookie boxes in the home.

Anola did not work out of the home however, tutored local high school students in English while living in Schenectady.  In Plattsburgh after she had made pies for the church she was asked to make pies for the hospital snack bar.  All hands on deck the night before pie baking, peeling apples.  Anola was very particular and did the cutting, curing, and slicing herself. (It had to be just so) The next day the house would be filled with the smell of pies baking.  Her one time record was baking 119 pies on her own.

When her youngest child was in high school Anola entered college to fulfill her desire to become a nurse. After completing three years she withdrew to once again take on the role of parent in the home for her two eldest grandchildren.  Julius A. Jr. and Anola shared custody of their son's children from his first marriage.

Anola's most important role was that of lifelong companion to her husband.  Anola supported him in all of his endeavors.  She was the one he came to when making choices and life decisions for their family.  She was the one who typed and edited his sermons, letters and other papers.  She was his sounding board, and she was the one that would encourage him to do, giving him the knowledge that she would always be at his side.  She was his everything, an aide to keep him focused on their path through life.

Anola always had a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to love.  These qualities were shared with not just her family but also all that came to her.  This can be seen by the multitude that refer to her as Granny (or mom before she became a grandmother).

Anola was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Julius A. Jr., her parents, two infant sons, on infant grandson, 8 sisters, 5 brother, numerous aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Her survivors include her son and daughter-in-law (Julius, III and Monique), her daughters Phyllis Archibald Mitchell and Edrie G. Archibald, her "adopted daughter" Crystal Mang, and "adopted son" Albert Ball (and wife Christine). Ten Grandchildren, Anola Mooney, Shannon Griffiths (and husband Craig) (who both grew up in her home), Alvin Mitchell (and wife Katrin), Hannah Mitchell, Julius A. Archibald IV, Naomi Mitchell, Jonah Mitchell (and wife Amanda), Rachel Kelly (and husband Ricky), David Mitchell (and wife Ayla), and Edrie Iva Archibald (who also grew up in her home), seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson, with another great-great-granddaughter due this July, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours will be Saturday, May 4th, from 4-6 p.m. at R. W. Walkers Funeral Home, Plattsburgh, New York.  Funeral services are Saturday, May 25th, at 3 p.m. at Plattsburgh United Methodist Church. The family will greet guests at 2 p.m.  Interment will be in the Archibald Family Plot in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York date to be determined.

Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh.