Mr. Howell was born February 8, 1939 in Cabarrus County to the late Claude H. Howell, Sr. and Catherine Sells Howell. He was a veteran of the US Army, and was owner and operator of Howell's Backhoe Service. He was a member of South Stanly Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judy Allen Howell and a brother, Claude "Doodle" Howell, Jr.

He is survived by his son, Frank "Bug" Howell. Jr. and wife, Gina, of Cottonville;  his daughter, Shannon Yow and husband Jeremy, of Locust; his grandchildren, Morgan and Annie Howell, and Braxton and Brooklyn Assad.