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Sunrise May 23, 1939
​Sunset February 16, 2019

Reflection of Life

    Lawrence Stephen Howell, a loving husband and father and grandfather by marriage, uncle and friend to whom all he met, made his transition to his heavenly home on February 16, 2018 after an extended period of loving care. Steve was born the oldest of five children to the late Lawrence and Maude Howell on May 23, 1939 in Manhattan, New York.
    Steve was joined in holy matrimony to Carol Cox in 1985 who he met while on assignment in England in 1971. Steve and Carol resided in Columbia, MD, and later built a beautiful home in Chesterfield, VA where they moved in 2000. Unquestionably, each displayed unfathomable love, loyalty and devotion for each other, and their love cascaded over their circle of family and friends as they generously gave of their time, resources and energies to host numerous gatherings for the people and causes they cared about. Their spirits were the perfect complement and they completed one another! But, you already know this. Steve accepted Christ, and he and Carol attended church at St. Barnabas Episcopal.

​    His parents, originally from Barbados, relocated to New York where Steve attended public schools. At graduation he enlisted in the US Air Force and served with distinction several tours of duty taking him to Alaska and Wakkanai, Japan until his honorable discharge in 1965. Benefiting from the extensive communications experience he gained in the military, Steve was recruited by the National Security Agency (NSA) in 1965. During his 34 years of service he worked primarily at the Ft. Meade, MD headquarters, with tours of duty at several field location assignments. Additionally, he performed extensive Temporary Duty (TDY) travel during his career.
    Steve’s career at the Agency was a distinguished one, rising in rank and status to the lofty height of a member of the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service (SCES), and notably was the Chief of the Equal Employment Opportunity Office, SA/EEO, and following served with distinction as the Chief of Station in Bangkok, Thailand for 3 years. Steve joyfully mentored many young employees of color and others without regard to ethnicity at NSA and was a true American Patriot and a loyal and trusted real friend to his many colleagues.
    Steve enjoyed dabbling in many pursuits, numbering among them early-on CB radio, until his great delight the day he came upon personal computers which opened the broad vista of the Internet and the limitless plain of vicarious adventures and -tures and intellectual pursuits. He was an avid reader and was exceedingly knowledgeable and conversant with most contemporary topics, issues and personalities. His sense of humor was tireless and inexhaustible! To balance, Steve earned the appellation of Master Gardener after he relocated to Virginia and was often consulted for his mastery of all things concerning soils, plant care and cultivation. He was also very aware that the world was round and could name many places on and off the beaten track that he had actually visited, a pleasure that he and Carol often indulged before the onset of his post-surgery decline beginning in 2011.

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​    Steve’s passing leaves a tremendous crater in the lives of those who knew and loved him. He leaves to mourn his wife, Carol; his stepsons, Jason and Jarrod and their families; his sisters Shirley Mascoll and Barbara Howell; brothers Bennie, David; his two nephews Stephan and Cameron and their families, and a host of cousins and friends.
     A special thanks to Steve’s and my family and the many friends who volunteered their visits and loving support to me, and a special recognition to the VA Maguire Veterans Hospital, Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Facility, and to Hospice of Chesterfield County, Virginia.

The family gratefully acknowledges the many kind and beautiful expressions of love and sympathy shown preceding and during its hour of bereavement.

Carol Howell's son,  Jason Cox - 1st Sgt  E8   US Army Guard, WY
&
grandson, Preston Cox - Petty Officer Second Class - E5  US Coast Guard 
Saluting at the Memorial Service