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The Rev. Edgar N. “Doc” Howell, 84, retired clergy, died May 18, 2013, after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years. The Rev. Linda Warehime officiated at a service at Resthaven Chapel in Frederick May 25.

Edgar Howell was born Dec. 5, 1928, in Sayville, N.Y., the son of the late Edgar Sidney Howell and Marie Magdeline Finkelmeier. He graduated from Regis High School in New York City in 1946, then received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and Latin from Spring Hill College in Alabama. He then served in the US Armyin WW II in Germany.

He completed Masters/Ph. D degrees in mathematics education in 1965. He also attended Scarritt College in Nashville, and received his Master’s of Divinity Degree from Drew University in 1976.

He and Catherine Patrice "Pat" Howell married in 1958. She died in 2009. They had two children.

Howell was ordained a United Methodist pastor, but seldom served in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. He served community churches as a pastor while teaching at colleges in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. His appointments included a 3-church charge in Sherburne, NY, a 2-church charge in Old Forge, Pa. (1979); a 6-church charge in tiny Volga, W. Va.,1980-82; a 2-church charge in Belington, W. Va., 1982-83; then in 1983 to the Jane Lew 3-church charge. In 1984, he was appointed to the Clarksburg Charge and finished his full-time pastorates there in 1985.

In 1985, Howell returned to teaching and taught computer science at a branch of Ohio University, continuing ministry part-time in nearby UMCs. In 1988, he took a UMC in Owensboro, Ky., and in 1990 when he began teaching at Kentucky Wesleyan College, he served a UM Church in Maceo, Ky. He retired from both teaching and preaching around 1995, according to a daughter.

In 1996, he moved to Middletown to be near his grandchildren, and began serving at Middletown UMC and as the Chaplin at Frederick Memorial Hospital. His special interest was in leading services and studies on healing. He joined the International Order of Saint Luke the Physician, a healing ministry. He continued at MUMC until his Alzheimer's disease progressed beyond a functional point.

For a decade, Howell was an avid volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved the level of Council Commissioner and received the Silver Beaver award.

He was also an author of several publications but was most passionate about his final work, "The Words and Works of the Holy Spirit" (Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc., 2005).

Survivors include his two daughters, Dr. Mary P. Howell of Middletown and Judy Howell Ziegler of Myersville. He performed the wedding ceremony for Mary P. Howell and her husband Dr. Steven J. Klein. He also performed the Communion service during the wedding of Judy C. Howell and Robert C. Ziegler. Other survivors are three grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to his daughter Judy Ziegler at 820 Rocky Fountain Drive, Myersville, MD 21773 or .