Ezra Howland

Ezra Francis Howland, Junior, 87, a resident of Sterling, Virginia, passed peacefully at home on January 25, 2008. He was born August 23, 1920, in New Bedford, Massachusetts to the late Ezra F. Howland, Sr. and Lena Hathaway Peck Howland. Mr. Howland lived in New Bedford before moving to Fairhaven and was graduated in 1938 from Fairhaven High School. He was a World War II veteran who served in the Army/Air Corps as a Staff Sergeant stationed in Europe. After returning home and moving to the Washington, D.C., area, he worked in the circulation department of The Washington Post. During the early 50’s, Mr. Howland was a cryptographer for the Army Security Agency and also worked as a pilot and flight instructor at the Falls Church Airport. Mr. Howland became an Air Route Traffic Controller at the Washington Airport and later became an Air Traffic Controller at Dulles International Airport where he retired in 1970. Since the early 60’s, Mr. Howland enjoyed his membership with Galilee United Methodist Church where he served as a lay leader and a member of the building committee. He treasured the time he spent traveling the country with his family in his trailer and during his retirement took many fishing trips in his motor home. He enjoyed his many activities with the Loudoun Road Riders, a local motorcycle group, and worked with the Loudoun County Hot Line for many years. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Sara (Sally) Tripp Howland; his three daughters, Gail M Howland of Sterling; Betty Kirkpatrick and husband Wayne of Stuart, Virginia; and Janet Evans and husband Michael of Clifton, Virginia. He also leaves four grandchildren, W. Matthew Kirkpatrick and wife Leah, Harrisonburg, Virginia; James H. Kirkpatrick, Virginia Beach, Virginia; M. Garrett Evans and Kathryn N. Evans both of Clifton, Virginia; and a great-grand daughter Anya Marie Kirkpatrick, Harrisonburg. He is also survived by his sister, Roberta H. Munce of Lynnfield, Massachusetts; and a half-sister, Joan H. Nichols of Acushnet, Massachusetts; a half-brother, Robert (Bobby) F. Howland of Freetown, Massachusetts. Mr. Howland was blessed to have a very special friend of over 80 years, his brother-in-law Carl F. Furtado of Barrington, Rhode Island, as part of his life. Family and friends will be celebrating the life of Ezra F. Howland during a memorial service being held at 2:00 in the afternoon on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, at Galilee United Methodist Church. A private interment will be held on Wednesday, January 30, at Union Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the building fund of Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, Virginia 20175. Arrangements by Loudoun Funeral Chapels.