William Lee "Bill" Howell

William Lee "Bill" Howell, 87, of Kitty Hawk, NC, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Virginia. Bill was born on April 5, 1938, in Washington D.C., and grew up in Rich Square, NC. He was the son of the late Ralph S. Howell and Lois Leake Howell. Bill earned his Master's degree from East Carolina University and dedicated 34 years to education, beginning as a teacher in Murfreesboro, NC, and then serving for three decades as a principal in Milton, DE. He was an avid competitor and skilled tennis player, winning numerous tournaments over the years to include the North Carolina and National Senior Games. His love for tennis was equaled only by his fondness for North Carolina's Outer Banks and his sense of adventure, which led him to travel to over a dozen countries to include multiple visits to his personal favorite, Australia. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 50 years, Linda Powell Howell (2014), and by his son, Mike Howell (2019).
The memory of Bill's quick wit and one-of-a-kind personality will be cherished by his son Jeff Howell (Ada); daughter Lynn Rowell (Kevin); grandchildren Brandon, Zach, Hunter (Madison),Ellie, and Eryn; great-grandchildren Brady, Weston, and Ford; his sister Gail Glover and her children, Don and Heather; and his sister-in-law Jean Bryant.
The family would like to express special thanks to Bill's longtime friends, neighbors, and the team at Spring Arbor Assisted Living in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, for their kindness and care in supporting him during his battle with dementia.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 1:00-1:45PM at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square, NC. A memorial service will follow the visitation at 2:00PM in the chapel. The family will have a private burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to the Outer Banks Tennis Association, P.O. Box 1665, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 or online by clicking here; or directly to the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition, PO Box 752, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 or online by clicking here.
Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service ~ Rich Square Chapel will be handling the arrangements for the Howell family and online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Lee "Bill" Howell, please visit our floral store.