Howard was born in Buffalo, New York on January 24, 1931. He graduated from high school in Salem, Oregon. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English at Midland College in Nebraska. In 1955, Howard received a Master of Divinity Degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. Howard served churches in both Oregon and Washington states.

In 1961, he worked briefly with unhoused people at the Lutheran Compass Center in Seattle, WA and became the Chaplain of Rainier State School in Buckley, WA at the end of that year. In 1966 Howard became the Director of Residential Services for Rainier State School and he retired in 1993. Howard and his wife Loree moved to Arizona, becoming snowbirds in 1997. Summers were spent in Washington state. In 2018, Howard and his wife moved back to Washington state, choosing the city of Puyallup as their home.

Howard's passions in life were genealogy and he authored many books and articles.

Howard passed away peacefully, in his home due to Alzheimer's Disease, on November 12 2022, surrounded by family. Howard is survived by his wife, Loree Baumgart of Puyallup, WA, and his children daughter Linda, son Brian, daughter Matija and Sandy Smith, son Matthew and Amy Petrovich, son Paul and Connie Petrovich, daughter Anastasia, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sons Duane and Gary.

Services for Howard will be announced in the Spring/Summer of 2023. Memorial contributions in Howard's honor are suggested to Celebration Lutheran Church, 2500 Shaw Road, Puyallup, WA 98374 (253) 848-1098. Weeks' Dryer Mortuary of Tacoma has been entrusted for caring for Mr. Baumgart and his family. On-line condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall of the obituary.

Published by Weeks-Dryer Mortuary on Dec. 22, 2022.