Edgar Leon Howell, 91, of Huyetts Crossroads, Hagerstown, Md., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Meritus Medical Center, after a long illness. A son of the late Lee Hampton Howell and Neva Goen Howell, he was born at the family home, Natural Well Farm, in Downsville. MD, on August 18, 1920. He was the 11th of their 12 children. He attended local schools, and was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Hagerstown. A veteran of World War II, he was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, and mustering out at the War's end. Returning home, he was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and then for many years by the Sinclair Oil Company. In 1955, he and his wife, Mary, opened The Old Trail Steak House at Huyetts, which they owned and operated for 50 years. In later years the Old Trail Steak House and Mr. Howell became known for nurturing fledgling blue grass musicians. A lifelong, self taught banjo and fiddle player, he and his wife were also long-time NPS Volunteers at the C & O Canal National Park in Williamsport, entertaining visitors with Mr. Howell's rendition of old time blue grass favorites and with the family mule who came along mostly every weekend. A farmer, during the 1950s, he bred and raised championship Herefords at his farm, Trails End Farm, in Kemps Mill. He is survived by his brother George of La Plata, Md.; granddaughter Christy Lee McElhaney and husband Mark A. Sunshine, Boca Raton, FL.; two great grandsons, James R. Sunshine and Ryan L. Sunshine, and a great granddaughter, Madison L. Sunshine, all of Boca Raton; his daughter-in-law, Georgia Lee McElhaney, Shepherdstown, W.Va., and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary Estella (Burgen) Howell; his son, James H. McElhaney, and his sisters Mable and Geneva, brothers Roy, Roscoe, Jesse, John Francis, Charles, Joseph, James and Benjamin. Services will be held Saturday, March 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown. Rev. G. Stanley Steele will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday, March 9.