Harold "Howie" Walter Tompkins, 63, of Dawsonville, died June 1, 2014.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Howie was born on Aug. 25, 1950, in Paterson, N.J., to the late Harold and Margaret Tompkins.

He left to attend Tennessee Wesleyan College, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in English and psychology.

He then obtained a master's degree in counseling from Georgia State University.

He married his loving wife, Jeanne Stephens, on June 8, 1974, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

After a lengthy career in sales of insurance and retirement plans, Howie retired last year and spent his retirement enjoying his grandchildren, playing golf, visiting friends and taking the occasional nap.

Howie battled Leukemia and had a successful bone marrow transplant (donated by his brother) in 2006.

He was deemed cured five years later and was considered a walking miracle. Because of this, he lived his life to the fullest and the exact way he wanted to, never taking anything for granted.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; son, Rob Tompkins; daughter and son-in-law, Celeste and Frank Husted; brother, Glenn; granddaughters, Claire Tompkins and Ava and Emilie Jeanne Husted; best friend, Sadie Grace; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. June 6 at the Roswell Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. June 5 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations were asked to be made to Northside Foundation, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, www.give.northside.com and under designation, choose Blood and Marrow Transplant Fund and in Memory of Harold "Howie" Tompkins.

Roswell Funeral Home of Roswell is in charge of the arrangements.