Michael Frederick Howell

Michael Frederick Howell, 79, of Winchester, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Winchester Medical Center.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Mike was the son of the late Barton John Howell and Margaret Lorraine (Cortese) Howell. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science in Administration from George Washington University, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Virginia. He obtained his Professional Engineer license in Virginia in 1976 and pursued a long and active career as an electrical engineer until his passing.

Mike began his career at the U.S. Naval Academy and later served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He ultimately became Chief of the Building Systems Division at the Transatlantic Program Center, where he led the Saudi modernization program. In this role, he oversaw billions of dollars in electrical, mechanical, and fire protection design projects across U.S. Army Central Command installations. His work significantly enhanced the living conditions, readiness, and effectiveness of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, and airmen.
In recognition of his service, Mike received the Superior Civilian Service Award and the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal from the Army Engineer Association prior to his retirement in 2006.
After retiring, Mike continued his professional work with Comfort Designs, a local engineering firm. His design contributions are reflected in thousands of buildings throughout Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley, including American Red Cross Building, George Washington Hotel, and several Valley Health facilities. Mike was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Paris, France Mission between 1965 and 1968. He also served as the Bishop of the Winchester Ward during a period of rapid growth of the Church in the Winchester area, overseeing the expansion of the Winchester Stake Center on Apple Pie Ridge Road. Later in life he served at the Director of the Church's Family Search Library, where he freely shared his life-long love of genealogy and family history work with others. Through a lifetime of dedicated service to the Lord, Mike truly blessed the lives of all those around him.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, whom he married on May 27, 1972; his sons, Jacob Martin Howell, Benjamin Lee Howell, and Daniel Bryant Howell; their respective spouses, Melissa Howell (Blue), Josephine Chau, and Charity Howell (Chapin), and twelve grandchildren, Julianna, Natalie, Katherine, Margaret , James, Isaac, Lilian, Michael, Zoe, Naomi, Peter, and Ezra; his sisters, Louise, Frances "Fran," and Holly; and his brothers, Barton "Bart" Jr. and Thomas "Tom." In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Joshua.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., with funeral services at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 399 Apple Pie Ridge Road, Winchester. Interment will be private.