Leonard E. Howsare Sr.

Leonard Howsare, Sr., 88, of Frostburg, Maryland, went to be with the Lord on July 30, 2025 at his residence. Born at home on August 21, 1936 in Cumberland, MD, he was the son of the late William Bruce Howsare and Eleanor (Hite) Howsare.

Mr. Howsare was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Stella (Stevens) Howsare in 2017; by four brothers, Paul, Bill, John, and George and one sister Kathleen (Howsare) Sigler.

He was a 1954 graduate of Beall High School in Frostburg, MD. Leonard was a hard worker all his life. At the age of 10, he set pins at Chuckles’ Bowling Alley (Sherwood) in Wrights Crossing. Growing up, he worked on his cousin’s farm in Centerville, PA. He sold produce off the back of a truck and Christmas trees in Baltimore among other jobs he did to help make ends meet.

Although he did not excel at sports (and would frequently say, “They picked the girls before they picked me”), he became an avid bowler and participated in leagues in the Baltimore, Frostburg and Cumberland areas.

At 21, Leonard began his career of 34 years as a road surveyor for the Maryland State Highway Administration. When he first started working for the SHA, he did not have reliable transportation so the only way for him to get to his job was to hitchhike from Cumberland to Baltimore. In 1959, he moved his family to Baltimore, MD where they lived until 1973. He rose through the ranks of the State Highway Administration by attending night school to further his skill set and eventually was able to retire at the age of 55. His work took him to every “nook and cranny” around Maryland and he was known to describe IN DETAIL the various roads he surveyed.

Leonard had a deep love and commitment to the Lord that was evident to those who knew him. After his retirement, he began his second (and most fulfilling) career, as a lay-missionary. His travels took him overseas to Africa where he shared his testimony and took part in evangelistic crusades and outreach ministries. He was so moved by what he experienced in Africa that he sponsored the building of a Methodist Church in Ghana. He traveled to China where he smuggled Bibles to believers there; he also did evangelistic work in the Philippines and Israel. A life-long member of the Shaft United Methodist Church (now Christian Fellowship) in Frostburg, Leonard taught adult and children’s Sunday school class, sang in the Choir, spoke as a lay leader, and visited area nursing homes where he prayed for the sick. He was chairman of the Missions program and served on the Administrative Board. Leonard also served as a volunteer, maintaining the grounds at God’s Ark of Safety Church in Frostburg for over 30 years.

During retirement, in between mission trips, Leonard, along with his wife, Stella, traveled with their dear friends, Skiddy and Carol Skidmore, to all 50 states and Canada.

He is survived by his children, Leonard (Karen) Howsare, Jr., LaVale; Kathy Skidmore (Chris), Frostburg; Bill (Sasha) Howsare, a brother, Royce (Pauline) Howsare, Columbia, SC, six grandchildren: Jenny (Aaron) Harrison, Sarah (Ryan) Ford, Emily Howsare, Logan Howsare, Ethan Howsare, and Josh Howsare; six great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at God’s Ark of Safety Church, 18606 Frostburg, MD on Monday, August 4, from 10 am to 12 with a service immediately following. Interment will be in Frostburg Memorial Park, Frostburg, Maryland. Pallbearers will be Brian Sigler, Greg Sigler, Logan Howsare, Ethan Howsare, and Josh Howsare.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Christian Fellowship Mission fund c/o Elaine Bennett, 12304 Upper Georges Creek Rd, Frostburg MD 21532.