Final Salute

Walter H Howell Jr, aged 104 of Manassas, VA passed away on Sept 22,
2026, at his residence with his family.

Walter was born December 31, 1921, in Suffolk, VA. The fourth child of the late Walter and Eunice Howell. His bond between his older brothers Bill, Joseph and his sister Gertie remained strong throughout the years.

He received his primary and secondary education in the schools of VA. He was in the first graduating class of East Suffolk High School in 1940 and was the Valedictorian.

He migrated to New York where he lived with his sister until entering the Navy in 1943.

He served in WWII with the Navy Seabees in Guam, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He returned to New York at the end of his tour.

In March of 1946 he married his high school sweetheart Thelma Cowling. They were married for 70 years until she passed in 2017. This union brought 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Walter was preceded in death by his wife Thelma, oldest son, Walter K Howell and 2 grandchildren Taura and Stephen Howell.

Walter worked in the Fur industry until he retired in 1986 after 40 years, where he served as Finance Officer and Executive Board Member for the Fur, Leather and Machine workers Joint Board and assistant shop fore-man in the Meisel – Peskin Company.

After more than 40 years in NY, Walter and Thelma moved to Virginia Beach, VA. in 1989 where they stayed until Thelma’s health started to fail. In 2012 they moved to Fredericksburg and in 2014 to Manassas to be closer to family.

He spent a few years in assisted living in Manassas and then moved in with Tony and his family in 2023. Tony and his family and Kodak, the rottweiler, became his caretakers and took care of him until he passed. It was a sight to see my dad tell this big dog to backup and he would. Kodak was very protective of him and in his final days spent time sleeping in the room keeping an eye on him.

Walter has a long and distinguished Masonic career. The committees he has served and chaired are too numerous to mention here. He was raised in Star of Sharon Lodge # 231 in Suffolk, VA in 1943 and demitted to Samson Lodge No 65 in New York in 1953. He is a Past Master and was elected Treasurer of that Lodge for 31 years. In 1986 he was elected DDGM Emeritus and in 1984 he received his 33rd and last degree of Ma-sonry. In 2022, he received the PGM Dr Solomon Wallace Award; he was the oldest living member. For the last 6 years on his birthday, he would have a zoom call with 15-20 members of that lodge. That became the highlight of his birthday, and he looked forward to it.

One of the last things he said that stays with me is “I did the best that I
could”.
Yes, you did Sir, now Rest Easy.

Walter is survived by two children, Linda D Latorre of La Plata, MD and Anthony Howell and his wife Sandra of Manassas Va; five grandchildren, Michelle Cox and husband Reginald, Kristi Latorre, Lorenzo Sanchez,
Devin Howell and Isaiah Howell; three great grandchildren, Sharnette Howell, Kayla Moultrie and Leo Sanchez and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at Pierce Funeral Home at 11:00 AM, with the family receiving friends an hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.

We would like to Thank Rev. Larry Felder from New York for officiating the service. Larry has been a part of our extended family for over 60 years.

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