Major Howard Seal (USAF) led a considerate life, brightened by his dedication to family and community service. He passed away peacefully in Beaverton at the age of 90.
Howard worked with the St. Vincent de Paul at St. Cecilia Church from 1992 until 2018 and helmed the volunteer organization for over a decade. With Howard’s help, the chapter provided food and other living assistance to numerous families throughout the Beaverton area.
Howard Seal was a devoted and loving family man, and a cherished husband and father. He and his wife, Theresa (née Schmidlin) were married in Anchorage, Alaska, in February of 1962. And they raised, primarily in the Beaverton area, two children: Chris Seal, of Missoula, Montana, and Becky Seal of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Howard was born in Treadway, Tennessee to Guy Walter Seal and Virgie Seal (née Richardson). He graduated from Church Hill High School, followed by a degree in Business Administration in 1952 from Carson-Newman College (now Carson-Newman University).
After college, he volunteered for the U.S. Air Force, entering Officers Candidate School and rising to the rank of Major during his 20 years of service. As a distinguished and respected officer, Major Seal served in Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and Alaska, as well as on several bases across the lower 48 states.
Howard and his family moved to the Raleigh Hills area of Beaverton after his retirement from the Air Force in 1971. There, he took up a second career in residential real estate. He was an avid reader and enjoyed watching Portland Trail Blazers basketball games with his wife and family. He cherished time with relatives and maintained many decades-long friendships, including staying connected with his high school classmates. He dearly loved his sister in Tennessee, Betty, speaking with her nearly every day during his last few years.
Colleagues, friends, and family enjoyed Howard’s wry, dry sense of humor. Quick-witted but unerringly kind, Howard would often deliver observations in his deep baritone voice. His soft-spoken humor was known to cause whole rooms of people to erupt in laughter. He was strong, gentle and kindhearted, leaving all feeling a deep appreciation for having known and loved him. He will be missed dearly.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Theresa, his son Chris, daughter Becky, sister, Betty Davis (Norman), sister-in law Frances Keagbine, nephews Kevin Seal, Robert Seal (Sarah), Scott Davis (Janet), James Davis (Tasha), Ray Keagbine (Nadja), Tony Keagbine (Teresa), Pat Keagbine (Tami), Gerry Keagbine (Jenni), Tim Schmidlin (Cindy) and nieces Beverly Keagbine, Ann Keagbine Vargas, and Sue Keagbine Pinto (Jon) and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Virgie, and a brother, Bobby Gene Seal.
The family would like to thank his many friends at the Beaverton Lodge for their love and support. We also thank Dr. Uma Borate and the other dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff involved in the BEAT AML Clinical Trial in the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU. We request donations be directed to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as to St. Vincent de Paul, a passion of Howard’s.
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