Howard Aberle Monto

Mr. Howard Aberle Monto, 95, a resident of Golden Living Center and formerly of Twelve Oaks Assisted Living in Mount Airy, died Friday, January 25, 2008. He was born March 30, 1912, in Rochester, NY, the son of the late Joseph Theodore and Emily Aberle Monto. After his parents' death, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Abel and Jane Aberle Simpson in Hempstead Long Island, NY, where he graduated from Hempstead High School. After graduating from Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA, in 1932, he moved to Mount Airy. Howard was the first certified watchmaker to come to Mount Airy, and he worked for Leonard's Jewelers for many years. He was known as "Monto" to his coworkers and many friends. In 1935, he married the former Audrey Ayers. Later, he worked for Wall's Jewelers in Mount Airy. While in Mount Airy, he was a charter member of the North Carolina Watchmakers Association. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, he was a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and deacon of the church. From 1958 to 1996, he was a resident of Charlottesville, VA, working for Tuel's Jewelers. In 1965, he became the first Accutron Technician in Charlottesville and was a charter member of Monticello Watchmakers and Jewelers Guild of Charlottesville. Mr. Monto was also a member of the Horological Association of Virginia and held the office of vice president from 1962 to 1963, president from 1963 to 1964, treasurer from 1964 to 1966, and on the board of directors for the association from 1959 to 1973. He was a member of Meadows Presbyterian Church and served for many years as a deacon in the church. After many years of retirement, Howard and Audrey returned to Mount Airy in 1996. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Richard Davis of Mount Airy and Patricia and Dennis Spencer of Charlottesville, VA; six grandchildren, Steve Davis and family of Reston, VA, Warren Davis and family of Mount Airy, Angela Davis Zorn and family of Crofton, MD, Jeanette Davis Baber and family of Crozet, VA, Denny Spencer and family and Wesley Spencer of Charlottesville, VA; sixteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Jane Staunton of Canandaigua, NY, and Betty Rice of Sun City West, AZ; a sister-in-law, Pearl Monteau of Rochester, NY; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Audrey Ayers Monto, in June, 2001; two sisters, Marion Monteau and Emily Spears, both of Rochester, NY; and a brother, Clifford Monteau of Rochester, NY. The funeral service will be held Monday, January 28, 2008, at 11:00 AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy. The service will be conducted by Dr. Steve Lindsley, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy. Burial will follow in the Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, 301 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030.