Howard Knowlton

Howard Edwin Knowlton passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Nottingham Village Assisted Living Facility in Northumberland, PA. He was born on August 30, 1932 in Graysville, OH to Stephan and Edna Knowlton. He was 7th of 13 siblings and is survived by 3 siblings: Burl Couch, Harley Knowlton, and Peggy Briggs.

Howard joined and served in the United States Navy from May 29, 1950 to June 1, 1953, during which he served 3 tours aboard USS MISSOURI and deployed twice to Korea during the Korean War.

Howard met Kathryn Dersham in 1951 in Washington, DC at a roller-skating rink. The couple was married on March 29, 1952. Howard and Kathryn moved to Lewisburg, PA after he separated from the Navy and had their first child, LuAnn, in 1954. With only an 8th grade education behind him, Howard was acceptedinto the Electrical Engineering program at Bucknell University. Upon graduating from Bucknell in 1958, Howard and Kathryn moved to New York and their second child, Linda, was born.  The couple then moved to Maryland where their third child, Alan, was born in 1964.  Howard began working at the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute supporting the government’s Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center (ECAC) in 1967 where he worked until 1995 and retired at the age of 62.

Howard, or Howie as he was affectionately known, was an avid bowler, earning a perfect 300-point game at least twice duringhis amateur bowling career. He played slow-pitch softball where he mastered pitching and was known for his sky ball, which was almost impossible to hit. Howard and Kathryn enjoyed traveling all over the world via cruise ships, trains, and buses. They also participated in organized square dancing and hosted many games of bridge at their home in Crofton, MD. Howie loved to fish, traveling as far as Canada and Florida for a chance at a catch. Lastly, Howard loved country music to include John Denver and Shanghai-da Train (Shania Twain). He would frequently walk around singing, “On the road again…” and other classic songs.

During his tenure at ECAC, Howard was a major influence to the many engineers and technicians that passed through his organization. To many he was a: mentor, friend, teacher, ethicalguide, counselor and a great role model. Most of all he was their favorite softball player. He is remembered by his family for his ability to make any child laugh, his knack for making ridiculous faces, and his talent for helping his granddaughters with their calculus homework. Those who lived on the Crofton Parkway knew him as the man with the immaculate lawn. Most of all, Howard loved Kathryn more than anything and they were literally inseparable. Howie and Kathryn celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on March 29, 2022.

Howard is survived by his wife Kathryn, his 3 children and their spouses: LuAnn and Nick Basciano, Linda and Chuck Noyes, and Alan and Cindy Knowlton; His 4 grandchildren: Karen Nola, Robert Noyes, Alaina Basciano, and Jessica Nuttycombe; and his 5 great grandchildren: Azalea, Loralei, and Teagan Nuttycombe, Robert Joseph Noyes, and Charlotte Nola.

Funeral arrangements by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., Mifflinburg.