Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Captain Frederic Northey Howe, Jr. (Fred) passed away from natural causes on August 6th, 2022 in Naples, Florida, he was 86 years old. Born into a long line of family members with Naval careers, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1957. Fred was the son of a USNA ’32 Graduate Capt. Frederic N. Howe and his mother Martha Elizabeth Cross of Suffolk Virginia; was a Suffolk High School student and then graduated Northwestern Prep school in Minneapolis, senior year ‘53. Suffolk is where he met his high school sweetheart Sandra Dianne Holland whom he married in 1957. Survived by his children: Frederic N. Howe, III, Martha Irene Brooks, Dianne Lorraine Purin, Amy Etheridge Wiedle and Grandchildren: F.N. Howe IV, Shannon Howe Pea, Holly Brooks and Amanda Brooks Meteyer, Megan Purin, Houston and Garrett Wiedle. Fred was pre-deceased by his parents, brother Harry Lee Howe with surviving spouse Cindy Zintsmaster and their daughter Persis Howe. Additionally, Fred had two sons-in-law from USNA classes of ’80 and ’81. Fred has 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren with an 8th, an arrival he just missed, due in October.

Career notables include the following:

With his USNA four-digit preference number; spent three years in Norfolk on destroyers followed by two more in Charleston with the mine warfare force. Went west to Monterey in July ’62 and completed Naval Postgraduate (PG) school. Eighteen months as aide at FIRST Fleet in Coronado then off to Brunswick, Maine shipyards, assigned as weapons officer (Terrier Missile) aboard the USS Biddle DLG-34. A tour as XO on the USS Barney DDG-6 in Norfolk and then three years at USNA Annapolis Md.; two as a weapons instructor and one in Bancroft Hall as Battalion Officer. Fred earned his Master Science Administration Degree at George Washington University in May ‘72. Arrived in Saigon in October ‘72. In February was sent to Nakhon Phanom (NKP) RTAFB Thailand, to conclude 1-year service, after NKP. Returned to Norfolk VA. as Commanding Officer of the USS COONTZ DLG-9/DDG-40 and after 27 months with the PEB, reported to Washington for ICAF. After successive tours at NAVSEA, OPNAV, and then back to NAVSEA (and belatedly discovering four years of creditable reserve time) he retired in July 1981 after moving to Fredericksburg. Spent the next three plus years in high tech sales and then, in 1985 joined Advanced Technology, Inc., in Arlington. During the 15-year period beginning in 1985, Fred served as the eminence grise for the Saudi Naval Forces Attaché’ in Washington until January 2001. Fred also served as Corresponding Sec. for his ’57 classmates, for many years. Served on the Stafford Co. Utilities Commission and as President Fredericksburg Civil War Round Table.

Military decorations as follows: Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Honor Medal First Class, National Defense Service Medal w/Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Bronze Stars, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit

A graveside service was held, with military honors, Saturday, August 27, 2022 in Holly Lawn Cemetery, 1525 N. Main Street, Suffolk VA 23434. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, Downtown Suffolk is serving the family. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to: c/o US NAVAL ACADEMY FOUNDATION – Designation – “Class 1957 Chair in Naval Heritage”, 274 Wood Road / Annapolis, MD 21402. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.