Nancy L. Howell-Streeter
Nancy L. Howell-Streeter succumbed physically but not emotionally, to her courageous six-year long battle with breast cancer at her home in Shepherdstown at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in the presence of her husband and son.
She was a native of Arlington, Va., where she was born to Carol and Charles Howell on Sept. 17, 1950.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at East Carolina University, a Master of Arts degree at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and graduated from the FBI National Academy, where she met her husband.
One of the first female law enforcement National Park Rangers, she came up through the ranks in her 20-year career which included undercover work deterring poaching and major criminal activity on National Park lands. She continued her love of protecting the environment and wildlife by accepting a promotion to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Again, she excelled in her work of employee safety education, protection of the environment and wildlife, and environmental education for adults and children, retiring as a Branch Chief.
Upon retiring, she found time to improve her budding wood carving skills to the level of juried award-winning woodcarvings. Her favorites being woodcarvings of the wildlife she had spent her life protecting and whimsical Santas. She also became a proficient golfer promoting the sport and eager to teach her family, friends, and sister beginner golfers. She was famous among her golfing peers for reminding them to have fun and “it’s only a game,” as well as her colorful language when a golf ball ignored her wishes.
As a volunteer, she served as a firefighter/EMT (Saltaire, NY) a girls’ recreational softball coach, basic boat operation instructor to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, and a board member of the Cress Creek Ladies Golf Association and Friends of the National Conservation Training Center. Over the years, she was a rescue pet-mom to 11 German Shepherds and 4 cats.
She is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, John W. Streeter, Jr.; their children: John W. Streeter III and wife Renée Streeter, Jo-Ann Cohen and husband Eric Cohen, and Deborah A. Myers and husband Ron Myers; their grandchildren: Dakota Cohen, Sami Lukasiewicz and husband Matt Lukasiewicz, William Myers and wife Jessica Myers, Jonathan Streeter and wife Dani Streeter, Stephanie Streeter and partner Clay Shealy, Kaileigh Myers-Twele and husband Stephen Twele, Brooke Williams, and husband Kevin Williams; their great-grandchildren: Cecelia R. Streeter, Scarlett E. Twele, Blake M. Williams and Emilia C. Williams; her brother, Charles Howell and wife Judy Roylance; her nephews: Ben Mack, wife Mary Lynn Mack and great-niece Anna Mack, Jonathan Mack and wife Gretchen Mack; and her cousins: Susie Bossert, Carol Sue Kostik, Peter Kostik and husband Bruce Rieder, Janice Smith and husband Mac Smith.
She was preceded in death by her parents and cousin, Jonathan Kostik.
In lieu of flowers, Nancy requested that any donations be made in her memory to: Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (www.shepherdrescue.org or P.O. Box 733 Centerville, VA 20122-0733), Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County WV (https://awsjc.org or
PO Box 147 Charles Town, WV 25414-0147), and the Potomac Valley Audubon Society (www.potomacaudubon.org or 1469 Lloyd Rd. Charles Town, WV 25414).
A private Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends at a time and place yet to be determined.
Condolences may be expressed at www.eackles-spencerfuneralhome.com.