Margaret Mary Howell

Margaret Mary Howell (Gensler) of Universal City, Texas passed away October 20, 2021, in her home at the age of 85. She was born October 16, 1936 in Graettinger, Iowa. She grew up in Roseville, California and attended Roseville Joint Union High School and Sierra College.

Margaret was the daughter of Mildred Aylward Gardea and William Gensler. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Charles Benton Howell, her brother, John Harlowe, her daughter Susan Veitschegger and husband Rick, and her son, Charles Benton Howell Jr. and wife, Judy. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Lauren McLaurin (husband Jason), Andrew Veitschegger (wife Liz), and Charles Benton Howell III. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren Claire, Anna, and Adeline. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Patricia Carter, and her brother Thomas Byrne.

After marrying her beloved husband, Margaret traveled with him via the Air Force and used her sewing talents wherever they landed. She worked as a manager and instructor for the Singer Sewing Company in California and was also a sewing instructor and seamstress in Hawaii, Colorado, and Texas. After working as a manager for the Express News in San Antonio, Texas, she returned to sewing and purchased an alteration business with her good friend. She returned to school later in life and studied fashion design at The University of the Incarnate Word. She was always sewing costumes and outfits for special occasions for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Above all, she loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and just being with her family, sharing meals, stories, and laughter.

Margaret was a fun-loving and giving person who always made time for others. In addition to caring for her family, she gave alot of her time by volunteering for various organizations like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Band Boosters, GRASP of Universal City, and countless other charities. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority` and thoroughly enjoyed socializing and serving along side her Kappa Xi chapter sisters each month. At home, you could always find her sewing cancer caps and heart pillows for local hospitals. There was no end to the kindness she showed her family, friends, neighbors, and community.

Many thanks to her loving caregiver Jessica Wimberley and the staff at Elara Hospice. Thank you for loving her until her passing. In her last days as she slept and dreamed, she was heard saying quietly "I have had a beautiful life".

In lieu of flowers, please kindly consider giving donations to the Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund @ https://www.hopkinsmyositis.org/gift/peter-frampton-myositis-research-fund/

Margaret will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery after a private graveside service.