Reverend Donald T. Howard, 71, of California, MD died Tuesday evening, November 16, 2010, in the Hospice House of St. Mary's in Callaway, MD. Born March 14, 1939 in Eustis, Florida, he was the son of the late Charles Jefferson Howard, born in Eatonton, Georgia, and Lucille Amanda Howard, born in Jasper, Florida.

He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Fl. in 1957, enlisting in the U.S. Navy Air Reserve in April of that year, serving at NARTU Jacksonville, Fl., NAS New Orleans, LA., Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, DC, VP-68 NAS Patuxent River, MD, and VP-62 Jacksonville, FL. After retiring from the Navy in February 1978 as an Avionics Master Chief, Don worked for several defense contractors before accepting a position in November 1980 with Naval Aviation Logistics Center, Patuxent River, MD., retiring from PMA 207 Naval Air Systems Command in November 2000. While working for PMA-207, he met and married Leilani Pearl Watts, his wife of 28 years.

Reverend Howard began his ministerial studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in June 1989, graduating in July 1994. He was ordained by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church at the National Cathedral in Washington DC in June 2002. He was first appointed as a local pastor to St, George Island UMC, MD., in August 1992, serving there nearly ten years. In addition to this appointment, he served First Friendship UMC, Ridge, MD., Olivet UMC, Lusby, MD., and Howard Chapel-Ridgeville UMC, Mt. Airy, MD. He retired from the ministry in June 2007.

Don is survived by his devoted wife, Leilani Pearl Howard, of California, MD; his brothers, Stephen C. Howard of Dunn, NC and David J. Howard of Pensacola, Fl.; his loving children, Susan Clarke, of the Sailing Vessel S/V Calypso of Marina Del Rey, CA, Leroy M. McCarty, of Overland Park, KS; Karl O. Howard, of Shepherd AFB, Wichita Falls, TX and Michelle L. Oyama, of Charlottesville, VA. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Shelby and Jacob Miller, and Austin and Jenna McCarty.

A memorial service will be held at Lexington Park United Methodist Church this Friday, November 19, 2010 by Pastors Doug and Lori Hays of Lexington Park UMC. The family will receive fellowship with loved ones from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the church hall, after which time the memorial service will begin in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. Since Don wishes to be cremated his ashes will be interned at St. George Island UMC cemetery in a private family service.

Contributions may be made to the Hospice House of St. Mary's, the American Cancer Society, St. George Island UMC, Piney Point, MD., or Lexington Park UMC, Lexington Park, MD.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.