Milton L. Howell Jr

Milton Lydell Howell, Jr, age 74, died at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday, September 5, 2014. The cause was myelodysplastic syndrome. Born in 1939 in Opelika, Alabama to Milton Lydell and Margaret Barksdale Howell, he graduated from Auburn University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics. He earned a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1969. Milton or Pat (as he was known to friends) had a distinguished career in the United States Army Corps of Engineers from 1962 until 1990. Highlights of his military career include two deployments in Vietnam, a tour as Battalion Commander for the 82nd Airborne and Chief, Infrastructure, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe for NATO from 1984-1986. He retired in 1990 with the rank of Colonel. Following his retirement from the US Army, Pat went on to pursue facilities and operations management beginning as Director of Public Works for the City of New Berlin, Wisconsin. He served in various facilities management and operations capacities in the higher education sector. He ultimately retired from The University of North Texas in 2005 after serving in the dual roles of Associate Vice President for Facilities of the main campus and Associate Vice-Chancellor for the UNT System Facilities. Following his retirement he continued to be involved as Consultant and Special Assistant to the President of University of North Texas. He was awarded the President's Citation of Distinction for his "professional achievements, service and support which brought distinction to the university." Pat was an active member of the Officer's Christian Fellowship for more than 35 years. He was a devoted Christian and member of the Church of the Good Shepherd. He was a life-long collector of antiques, especially tools. An expert woodworker, Pat enjoyed building furniture as well as restoring and refinishing antiques. To honor his wife, he joined the League of Women Voters in 2013. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Boone Howell; his two daughters and their families, Patricia and Mitchell Odinak and daughters Abigail and Hanna of Rochester, NY, Catherine Johnson and Gregory Condon and sons Zachary Johnson and Dylan Condon of Castle Rock, CO; a stepson, Corbin Boone Wright of Fort Worth, TX; his sister, Julia Bird of Mt Pleasant, NC and his brother, John Howell of Culloden, GA. Services will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2014, 10:00 a.m., at Church of the Good Shepherd, 7834 Tennyson Street, in Albuquerque 87122. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Pat's name to The Church of the Good Shepherd Building Fund or the League of Women Voters Education Fund. FRENCH Funerals 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400