Howard Leroy McGill

Howard was born in Conroe, Texas to William Howard McGill and Frieda Clara Mosebach on February 25, 1931. He was the eldest of four children. Howard graduated from Giddings High School in 1949, then attended Sam Houston State University from 1949 to 1951. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant in munitions. He served at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Griffith Air Force Base in Rome, New York, Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, and was discharged from Yuma Air Force Base in Yuma, Arizona in 1954.

Howard met Patsy Jean Briggs in Houston while on leave from Elmendorf A.F.B. in 1952. He spotted her while she staying at his next door neighbor’s house and it was love at first sight for Howard. Patsy loved to go out dancing, so Howard took dance lessons from Arthur Murray Dance School in Anchorage, Alaska so that he “catch” her. They were married on August 13, 1955.

Howard received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Houston in 1958 and his Masters Degree in Engineering from the University of Houston in 1961. He worked for Schlumberger in Houston designing oil drilling equipment until 1980, then moved the family to Lufkin and worked for Lufkin Industries in their trailer division until 1990. Howard continued to consult with Schlumberger and before retiring had acquired 36 patents for Schlumberger.

Howard was a passionate fisherman and never missed an opportunity to fish while on vacation. He loved quail hunting and owned pointers and spaniels most of his life. He and his brother Joe Dan shared a love for gun collecting and often went deer hunting together. Howard was rarely idle and always had multiple projects going on around the house.

He was also an excellent student. His only “C” occurred in high school when he skipped out of playing baseball in gym class to play tennis instead.

He and Patsy often played mixed doubles together. Howard loved playing the net position and had a wicked slice. He loved that his grandson Evan made the varsity tennis team in high school.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 17, from 5:00-7:00pm at Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin, Texas. The funeral will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, March 18, at the EMG Chapel located in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Lufkin, Texas with Brother Steve Killam officiating, assisted by Robert Jones. Howard is entitled to and will receive a military funeral. A reception will be held following the services back at Gipson Funeral Home.

Surviving Howard are his wife Patsy, daughter Maureen McGill Vickery of Houston, son-in-law Don Vickery, grandsons Nathan Asher Vickery and Evan Connor Vickery, cousin Mildred Lee Blasdell, sister-in-law Sherry Earhart McGill, nephew Joe Michael McGill, and niece Julie Ann McGill.

Predeceasing Howard in death were his father William Howard McGill, mother Frieda Clara Mosebach McGill, daughter Melinda Lee McGill Permenter, brothers Joe Dan McGill and David Eugene McGill, and sister Roberta Marie McGill.

It is requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.